I spoke to a Republican strategist I respect yesterday, and he had this to say (I paraphrase): ‘I tend to agree that we will crush Dean. But there is a wild card with him that there isn’t with the other candidates. Maybe he really can do what he says he will do, and create so much enthusiasm with the base of the party that he brings new people to the polls. So I would prefer to be running against one of the other candidates, who will lose in a more predictable way. The upside and downside risks are greater with Dean.’