I can't emphasize enough how bogus this left / middle / right is. It is only perception. Period. We had Bush's record in TX, and Cheney's extremism, but no one but Ivins bothered to look at / report it. (Three years too late, the NYT points out that the TX Miracle was a fraud. Thanks.)
I'm a Dean supporter, 'cause the only chance the US has is with a candidate / campaign that recognizes that this election will be a referendum on Bush. But I realize that Dean may not be shaping up as the best candidate. His tax proposal is "bad" politics, and, most importantly, the media hates him. I thought that maybe the Deaniac phenomenon would overcome the media, but they can't even beat Hair Kerry the Corpse in IA.
Right now, I think our best (but not only) chance is Clark / Dean, with Clark being strong and smart, Dean attacking Cheney relentlessly, and Edwards as AG attacking Ashcroft tirelessly (and a full shadow cabinet working hard around the country).
The country already agrees on the issues. But we keep getting trounced. Perceptions.