WHO ELSE WINS?

Of course, one problem with the Gore-Dean juggernaut is that it makes an anyone-but-Dean candidacy more likely to emerge at some point. Clark was the obvious option, but he’s so bad a candidate I can’t see him pulling through on a centrist message (especially since he’s been getting shriller and shriller on the stump). Kerry … oh, never mind. Lieberman could have done it, but Gore’s knifing him in the front rather knocks that scenario into the delete file. Edwards? He’s run by far the most appealing campaign to my eyes, but he cannot hope to compete in the big leagues yet, especially with the kind of flattening momentum Dean now has. So Gore manages both to set himself up for 2008 and dent a few potential rivals at the same time. Smart and bold.

THE EMAIL SCREW-UP: TNR gets sent a pitiful email from the Kerry campaign, with an aside meant for campaign staffers only. Can they get any more pathetic?

INDYMEDIA STRIKES AGAIN: A new design for the American flag.