http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-harkin3jan03,1,3110393.story?coll=la-headlines-
nation
The 64-year-old Harkin, by far the state's most influential Democrat, is torn on a decision that could help tip the balance in the highly competitive caucus race. He said he plans to deliberate until early next week, and then announce his decision.
Like many prominent Democrats around the country, Harkin appears drawn to Howard Dean's take-no-prisoners attacks on President Bush and impressed by the former Vermont governor's formidable fundraising and innovative use of the Internet to build support for his candidacy.
"I happen to like Gov. Dean," Harkin said in a telephone interview Friday. "I like his combativeness. I like the fact that he seems to be bringing a lot of new people into the party."
But despite persistent rumors that he would endorse Dean, if anyone, Harkin stopped well short of tipping his hand as he spoke from a vacation spot in the Bahamas.
He said he wants someone who can "generate enthusiasm and bring new people into the party," comments that would apply to Dean. But Harkin also said he would like the Democratic nominee to be "someone who comes from a working-class background, someone who's had life experiences that most normal people might have had."
That would better describe Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, whose father, among other jobs, drove a milk truck, than Dean, son of a Wall Street financier. ...
Yet Harkin remains torn. "He thinks this is such a close call on all sides," Link said. "He's got a lot of close friends on all sides of this debate."