Because people hate Beltway Dems.
Now you must be thinking that Ptolemy has really lost it, since the Beltway Dems are doing better ... but no, people hate them.
Dean is losing points because so many Beltway Dems have endorsed him, he's losing outsider status.
Kerry is gaining, because we haven't heard as much from him on the news. I'll bet he's actually gaining mainly where he ISN'T campaigning in Iowa. He's rising in NH now that he left for Iowa. My advice to him? Hide in a hole. He'll be President if he does that.
Clark is the only real outsider left with any mo, and he's gaining.
Lieberman isn't.
As for Gep and Edwards, well ... the Beltway Dems endorsing Dean are attacking them. So, you can either go with one Beltway Dem or the choice of many Beltway Dems ... you'll take the lesser of two weevils.
SO I think Zell Miller is onto something. The entire Democratic delegation should endorse Bush in the general, and then the candidate should indignantly take governors around the country with him and try to GET THE COUNTRY BACK.