The New Electable Howard Dean

The Village Voice -- "If you sat down and designed a candidate to be maximally attractive to Southern voters, it wouldn't be Howard Dean," said Noble. "But that doesn't mean we won't accept him. He talks a little funny, but our ears will get attuned." Southerners, Noble pointed out, are "disproportionately without health care, insecure about jobs, and grossly disproportionately concerned with poor education in schools."

"Besides," said Noble, "Southerners like feisty people. And Dean is a Yankee redneck."