The Hiller Instinct: Race for the White House

Wesley Clark, (D) Presidential Candidate
"I am pro-choice, I am pro affirmative action, pro environment, pro health. I believe the U.S. should engage with allies. We should be a good player in the international community and we should use force only as a last resort. That's why I'm proud to be a Democrat."

Then the Democrats got serious about taking down front runner Howard Dean:

Sen. John Kerry, (D) Presidential Candidate
"I think Governor Dean is absolutely wrong and he's wrong on his facts."

Struggling John Kerry finally attacked Dean directly on tax cuts and trade policy:

Sen. John Kerry, (D) Presidential Candidate
"It's either a policy for shutting the door--if you believe it--or it's a policy of just telling people what they want to hear."

Howard Dean, (D) Presidential Candidate
"I think Senator Kerry is insensitive to the plight of workers--American workers--who have lost their manufacturing jobs."

Then it was Dick Gephardt's turn:

Rep. Dick Gephardt, (D) Presidential Candidate
"When I was leading the fight against Newt Gingrich and the contract with America--he was shutting the government down--Howard you were agreeing with the very plan Newt Gingrich wanted to pass."

Howard Dean, (D) Presidential Candidate
"That is flat out false and I'm ashamed that you would compare me with Newt Gingrich. Nobody up here deserves to be compared to Newt Gingrich."

The tone of the debate worried some Democrats, but not Dean:

Sen. John Edwards, (D) Presidential Candidate
"We need to be really careful that our anger is not directed at each other."

Howard Dean, (D) Presidential Candidate
"The truth is that we have fundamental policy disagreements here."

Howard Dean may be from a small state, but he proved again in this debate he's a big-time candidate...able to take his opponents' best shots, and fire right back. While General Clark proved he has enough of the right stuff to be a major candidate.