What Dean's Mojo Means To The Top Contenders

By Mitch Frank

HURTS

JOHN KERRY Dean's rise has pushed Kerry into the wings and jeopardized the Senator's chances in his must-win state of New Hampshire; expect their fight to get uglier

HURTS

JOE LIEBERMAN Lieberman hoped to fight Kerry for New Hampshire, but Dean has pushed him into third, and as Dean nudges the race to the left, Lieberman may look too conservative

HURTS

BOB GRAHAM Dean swiped the Florida Senator's best issue, his opposition to the war, and this helped relegate him to the second tier

HELPS

DICK GEPHARDT If Dean cancels out Kerry, Gephardt could become the default party favorite, but Dean is also pushing hard in Iowa, Gephardt's must-win backyard

HELPS

JOHN EDWARDS Dean has taken the sheen off North Carolina's glossy Senator, but if Dean beats Kerry up North, Edwards could bill himself as the moderate savior in the South