There's been a lot written on the Club for Growth's anti-Dean attack ad, which is admittedly quite clumsy and far of the mark. Sometimes people are their own worst enemies.

Still, I think a lot of the criticism ignores the fact that the ad will be effective. My friend Martin at Monograph or Ambivalent Imbroglio (the link above) are both approving, but then, they're not from 'red' or 'flyover territory' America. Dean for America is capitalizing on this, of course, and it will energize his base... but the 'Freak Show' ad is going to have its effect to, and it would be good for Dean to marginalize it. Dean for America:

Or what about those lattes? A report by the Christian Science Monitor (not the New York Times, mind you) notes that Michael Gerson, the president's speechwriter, does his writing in Starbucks. The words coming out of George Bush's mouth at any moment may have been written over a latte!

The Ambivalents of this world, and those too quick to dismiss the commercial, should take note of it anyway, and not just to mock. The commercial makes out Dean supporters to fit a demographic profile, and any good marketing man will tell you that while no such profile fits in all particulars, they can be valuable in describing your customer base. That description doesn't meet the core demographic of Iowa, but I wonder how closely it fits the bulk of Dean's support. Among Democrats, this kind of thing may not be effective, but in the general election, Dean will need a broader base of support. The candidate who lectures Southerners about the issues that must be important to them will make as many enemies as he does friends.