It's a a four-man race coming out of New Hampshire, with Kerry reinforcing his lead, Dean catching just enough of a second wind to keep him in the race, and Clark and Edwards neck-in-neck going into the South on the 3rd. Lieberman is trying to spin his fifth-place finish as a virtual tie for third, but the writing's on the wall, and he won't last beyond February 3rd. Interesting times for the Democrats, indeed.

Many have seen a competitive race on the left as a good thing for BC04, the theory being that negative campaigning and oppo work would drive deep wedges between competing supporters. However, anecdotal results in Iowa -- in an interview with Des Moines TV, Democratic chair Gordon Fischer said that many caucus locations had run out of voter registration forms -- suggested otherwise: a competitive race may catalyze interest and energize the base for the general election.

In the meantime, Bush is catching flak from his right, where his base has become disenchanted with a growing deficit, rapidly expanding social programs, a controversial immigration reform proposal and, as mentioned below, the recent appointment of Judge Pickering to an appellate position. Since a low evangelical turnout will cripple BC04's re-election efforts, the Administration may need to tack rightward during election season.