To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (518831 ) 1/3/2004 11:30:15 AM From: Hope Praytochange Respond to of 769670 Dem Presidential Candidates Hope to Topple Dean By John Waage CBN News Sr. Analyst January 2, 2004 Some have charged that if Howard Dean were elected, he would be the most militantly secular president in U.S. history. CBN.com – (CBN News) - Voters in Iowa will launch the 2004 presidential campaign in less than three weeks. The burning question for Democrats is, can anyone stop Howard Dean? The Democratic front-runner is taking plenty of heat from his rivals, as concern grows about his ability to face President Bush in November. Howard Dean came on like gangbusters in 2003, capitalizing on his party's anger at President Bush and the war in Iraq. The former Vermont governor raised a ton of money on the Internet, and has dominated the polls for months. But the same angry rhetoric that fired up supporters now has some Democrats worried that he may not have the right stuff to beat the President in November. Dean's constant criticism of Bush, his belittling of the capture of Saddam Hussein, and his suggestion that conservatives are preoccupied with God, gays, and guns could create a lot of campaign material for the President and his reelection team. The other Democratic candidates have 17 days to slow Dean down, and they're working overtime to do it. Former General Wesley Clark is touting his national security experience, which he says dean can't match. House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt hopes to derail the front-runner in Iowa. And former Vice-Presidential Candidate Joe Lieberman has become the anti-Dean candidate, warning that he will take the party in the wrong direction. Some have charged that if Dean were elected, he would be the most militantly secular president in U.S. history. Sensing that Americans want their president to be a man of faith, Dean now says he'll talk more openly about Jesus, especially in the South. But for the next few weeks, he'll be embroiled in a fierce fight within the party. The nearly free ride he enjoyed as last year's front-runner appears to be over.