The more objective side of this story is
http://www.bopnews.com/archives/000241.html
Now for the partisan edge...
To win means, as Chris Lydon is fond of saying "winning the conversation". It is something that Lakoff hits hard with in terms of "framing" the debate.
But to win the frame game, you've got to be in it. One reason the Republicans are successful is that they can use their luantic fringe effectively. People may disagree with the methods, but they say "yeah, they at least are pointed in the right direction". They may not like religious excess, but morality, piety and love thy neighbor are still goals that Americans ascribed to. People may not like the excesses of the Republican congress, but they want to get rich.
On the opposite side, the left often gives air time to people whose goals are not recognized by Main Street America as being congruent with their own. Americans like their pets, but they like leather seats. Americans want a fair trial system, but letting convicted murders out on later recantations of testimony isn't high on their list of priorities. It is not that "causes" are not important in improving society, but critical dialog of this sort is trailing, not leading, edge material.
One of the reasons Dean worked for a time was that he tapped a mainstream sentiment for change. Edwards, Clark and Dean have all searched for that revolutionary vein from which to mine their material. Each one has found the mark from time to time - and each one has failed to create the powerful sense of being a vanguard of a restoration of America.
And that is, ultimately, the theme we must have - that much has been lost - honour, integrity, stability. America must be brought back to fine polish and a ready state, to face the crisis of leadership which has been thrust upon us.