"Support for civil unions of gay couples is 20 points lower in Iowa, at 56 percent to 35 percent. In South Carolina, prospective Democratic primary voters oppose civil unions, 52 percent to 36 percent.

In short, it is cultural forces -- far more than anything else -- that explains Dean's appeal in New Hampshire, forces that may tug the other way when the race moves to more typical battleground states."

Well if civil unions is the litmus test for "cultural forces" then that leaves out everyone if one looks strictly at their positions and not on any perception. (One could make a case between carving Lieberman and Edwards out from the pack).

Edwards does not strike me as someone with "gravitas" and it's a stretch for Lieberman. Lieberman will lose most of the Green vote whereas Dean has a chance to pick up quite a bit (in fact there are a number of Greens active as volunteers).

According to this reasoning - the best man has dropped out.