Dean Supporters Fighting Back

Why Dean is rising in NH:

Many of his supporters here are angry at the media and the process and are fighting back.

His news coverage is getting better, and The Scream has faded a bit.

The campaign is doing an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes canvassing and a whole lot of maintenance of its "Ones."

Perhaps, Senator Kerry's barbed words for the Governor are based on some concern, either diffuse or specific, about Dean's momentum.

The organization Dean has in place — from his house party contacts to his unions (SEIU, NH NEA, etc).

Karen Hicks, his state director, is awesome. And she is totally in charge of the campaign, from deciding what interviews Dean does to influencing senior staff assignments to being the voice closest to Dean's ear. This is decidedly unlike Iowa, where there were probably too many cooks in the last few days.

Clark is not quite as strong as the Dean believed he would be, and that's allowing them to focus on turning out women and independents.