Kerry's momentum vs. Dean's organizing in Washington State

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http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/04/2/6/18149224.cfm

There are no public polls in Washington state and Maine, but strategists for rival campaigns say Kerry should win both easily. Internal polls show him safely leading in both states, sources close to the senator said.

But Dean's strategists hold out a glimmer of hope because of Washington's history of backing underdogs, and Maine has a small, unpredictable Democratic voting base.

Confident of victory, Kerry chose not to advertise in the weekend states, though he will travel to them. Dean had no choice; he is short on money and is saving his resources for Wisconsin, which has its primary Feb. 17.

Dean, who had appearances in Spokane, Tacoma and Seattle on Wednesday, urged Washington to live up to its reputation for being a cage-rattler that doesn't always take its cues from voters elsewhere. "We need to win Washington state," Dean told a Spokane audience. "Washington state will be the turning point, if we win, of this campaign."