... national party leaders. Dean in 2003-2004, on the other hand, had the endorsement of the former presidential nominee and nominal party leader Al Gore and a number of other party leaders, had his name on all ballots in every primary, and had free access to the electorate in every state. The people of Iowa had more opportunity to see and hear and consider Dean than any other candidate (didn't Dean visit every county in Iowa, some many times). So, to claim that Dean failed in Iowa and the other primaries because he was not given a fair chance is just ludicrous. Going into Iowa, he had more endorsements from party bogwigs, more endorsements from union officials, more money to spend, and more media coverage than any other candidate. The simple reason he came in third is that the people of Iowa got a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very good look at Dean ... and chose someone else. One thing that would greatly help the Democratic Party is if everyone would acknowledge that Dean lost it fair and square, and then we all could stop pretending that something else happened!