Ron Brownstein(LAT): Edwards, Kerry copy Dean. Dem A game on display in IA

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The Democratic contenders have picked up their game. On display last week in Iowa have been candidates at the top of their form, with the intermittent exception of Howard Dean, who at times has seemed to buckle under the pressure of his disappearing lead. Yet even Dean continues to demonstrate the ability to inspire a passionate following — as have Gephardt and, increasingly, Sens. John F. Kerry and John Edwards.

Each of the major contenders has found a distinctive message and appeal that separates them from the others; it is as if they are running down lanes that only rarely intersect.

Though Dean in the final days has sometimes sought to strike a more positive tone, he is still mostly offering his combustible mixture of empowerment and revenge. He tells voters that they are joining not just a campaign but a cause, an argument so resonant with so many Democrats that Kerry and Edwards have copied it almost verbatim.

But Dean still draws most of his energy from his attacks on President Bush and the "Washington Democrats" he accuses of bowing to him. Listening to Dean rouse a crowd against the Democratic leadership, it's easy to imagine what the Visigoths sounded like when they exhorted their hordes to sack Rome: He promises the satisfaction of retribution.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-outlook19jan19,0,4856721.column?coll=la-headlines-politics

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And we wonder why Kerry and Edwards are doing better in the polls. I believe it was TS Eliot who said the greatest form of flattery was imitation.

Edit for inflammatory title.

Dean snipes, critizizes Washington insiders yet welcomes their endorsements and is less than straightforward regarding a meeting with an ex-president.

Edwards preaches his own gospel of positive change for America and stays to the high road.

Kerry is largely the same but with sniping.

So who is imitating who ?

A clue: noone else pounds podiums and is forced to use scowels to get a rise out of crowds. Noone is immitating Dean. no one wants to.

"He tells voters that they are joining not just a campaign but a cause, an argument so resonant with so many Democrats that Kerry and Edwards have copied it almost verbatim."

-It's the message, stupid!

Dean and Gephardt have been attacking each other for a long time now in Iowa, and now that they see it's not helping them, they've had last minute changes-of-heart.

Kerry and Edwards are surging not because they copy Dean's message but because they (and particularly Edwards, no offense to Kerry) have done their best not to get mired in the mudslinging.

And how exactly is railing against Washington insiders Dean's idea? Haven't politicians always been claiming to be going against the Washington establishment? George W. Bush promised he'd "change the tone" in Washington. How do you think John Edwards got elected to the Senate in the first place? It's a guaranteed applause line; Howard Dean hardly gets the credit for that.

EDIT: Same goes for calling your campaign a cause. Kucinich supporters believe they're for a cause (rightfully so). What politician doesn't also use the line, "I'm gonna change America! Vote for me!"