Two months ago I saw a room full of people in Iowa, convened by a TV network for the purpose of seeing where Middle America stood on the subject of presidential candidates. The Iowa Caucuses -- the first primary of the presidential campaign season -- were a month away. When the room was polled by the host, at least half the crowd favored Howard Dean. The former Vermont governor was, by all accounts, the leading Democratic candidate. He had raised the most money. He had gathered the largest grass roots organization.