Reply #2: Both Dean and Kucinich were low on the radar screen.

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Dean started attacking the other Dem candidates, then the media started calling him the liberal, antiwar candidate. The $$$ from the left came in.

Dean is NOT liberal, and he was not even antiwar, as noted in his support for the Biden-Lugar version of the Iraq resolution.

Kucinich IS antiwar and a real liberal.

Dean did not speak at any of the antiwar rallies but received the attention from the media as a staunch opponent of the war. The $$$ from the left increased.

Kucinich spoke at the antiwar rallies as a presidential candidate and received NO attention from the press. He submitted legal papers to stop the war, but NO press. Dean still described by the press as Bush's fiercest antiwar opponent, but declined to join Kucinich's legal action. The $$$$$$ are rolling in.

As far as the DLC goes, they are sitting pretty. They have a huge group of lefties who just months ago fervently loathed the DLC's centrist ways, now defending Dean's compromising with the GOP in Vermont and his centrism as "brilliant strategy" and "pragmatism." I'm sure they're enjoying a few laughs.

I don't care if this doesn't convince you, I have no gift for writing, but there are a good number who watched this all go down over the last 8 months with the same observations even though we are in different camps.