Very interesting...

Well, the results are in, and it looks like John Kerry takes the first round after a mad dash to the finish. I believe, however that the real winner was John Edwards, who only weeks ago was practically written off but came from nowhere after what looked to be a big shift in campaign tactics from 'son of a millworker' to the 'straight-talker.' The latter, I must say, suited him much better and probably led in part to the results that we see today.

Howard Dean? Well, he needs a new message. People are concerned about his electability and he obviously didn't provide enough evidence going the other way. I can't blame his campaign completely though -- having 'frontrunner' status he endured weekly attacks on his campaign from both the other candidates and the media far out of proportion to what everyone else received. This is probably a good thing for the party though -- just like his presence forced people like John Kerry and John Edwards to pony-up and start saying some things that were real, this defeat is going to be a turning point in the Dean campaign. Either they rise to meet the challenge presented to them or they will get creamed in future primaries in a similar manner.

You have to feel bad for Dick Gephardt a little though. I never would have supported him, but there was no doubt that he was a good guy fighting for principles that he believed in. It's just too bad that he had to suffer what has to be a humiliating defeat in a state he carried last time he ran for president.

On to New Hampshire...