In the running

UK Guardian -- Howard Dean is scarcely five minutes into his standard campaign speech to a crowd of Democrats on a New Hampshire lawn, when it becomes apparent why he is at the centre of so much unexpected excitement. Dean, who until recently was governor of the neighbouring state of Vermont, does not exactly look the part of an electoral phenomenon. He is neither tall nor imposing (a fact only emphasised by the fact his handlers stand him on little stools to make his speeches). Nor can he boast a military record that has become so politically handy in this age of perpetual conflict. In fact, in his dour brown suit, he looks every inch the provincial doctor he was before he wandered into Vermont politics.

But it is soon clear that Dean is visibly, viscerally angry and it just so happens that right now, anger is what the true party faithful are looking for in their presidential candidate in the 2004 elections.

The Democratic rank and file are furious that the country was taken to war on false pretences, and they are outraged at the Bush tax cuts, which are in effect a transfer of staggering proportions from the nation's savings account to the nation's millionaires.

Dean has opted to give vent to that fury, in marked contrast to most of his rivals from the Democratic establishment in Congress, who voted to support the war and struck a deal with the White House over the tax cuts. He has consequently emerged as the surprise frontrunner in the Democratic nomination race, upsetting the conventional wisdom that an anti-war, pro-gay (he instituted civil unions for same-sex couples in Vermont) liberal could never thrive in a nation so fearful and so intoxicated with patriotism.