Strange but true.
Iowan Legend has it that a certain Doctor Foster and a certain Mr Mean Gingerbreadman got into a negative spat with a series of broadcast ads. Legend has it that this opened up the field for Mr Sunshine Esq and Lt Warhero. Legend has it that Doctor Foster went down fighting what he incorrectly perceived to be his greatest threat, but missed the two nice guys.
So the CW goes--don't get into a negative spat with other candidates--instead stay above the fray.
Trouble is negative ads work very well. Political campaigning tends to prove that the side that makes the most EFFECTIVE negative ad will win.
So what do you do when faced with the dilemma of being attacked by an unremitting ruthless opponent like Mr Gingerbreadman? How long can you dare to stay above the fray when you know that the negative ads will eventually drag you down anyway? What do you do to prevent a mutual suicide pact when you do decide to defend yourself?
Here is a rough answer:
What I'd have done if I were Dean: attack Gephardt back, but also drag Edwards and Kerry and maybe another candidate into the mud immediately. Make sure Mr Sunny and Mr War hero get a good beating and were forced to respond by getting nasty as well.
So I recommend Clinton start burying the entire field with ads. Ads that specifically require Obama, Richardson, Dodd, Biden to go very negative. Obama is right on her shoulder in Iowa and so far he's managed to avoid responding with manifest anger or belligerance or negativity. She cannot afford to let him keep his hands clean. Richardson, Dodd and Biden have not yet been forced to to get their hands dirty either.
If Clinton responds to Edwards without taking down the rest of the field she runs the risk of handing this to Caucus Obama. Edwards will happily go on forcefully critiquing Clinton even if she responds with vitriol. IT WILL NOT STOP. One way or another her numbers will be smashed by the Sledgehammer that Edwards is wielding--she can fight him or ignore him. The result on her standing will be the same--loss of support. she can fight back against Edwards individually, but if she fights back and lets Obama in the back door she'll regret it. So I suggest Clinton go "ballistic" on the entire field and not repeat Dean's focus on only Gephardt.