Kerry's quest to clinch it

Increasingly, Kerry's rivals are finding it difficult to map out a convincing path to victory. If Edwards and Clark were to win in one or more states tuesday, both would then look ahead to Virginia and Tennessee, which vote Feb. 10. But they would also face growing pressure to come up with victories outside the South, to avoid being seen as regional candidates.

Similarly, in the Feb. 7 contests in Michigan and Washington, where Dean is hoping for a strong showing, Kerry is likely to prove a formidable contender. He recently won the endorsement of Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The value in a Feb. 3 victory for any of Kerry's rivals may be simply to buy time - and hope that if Kerry is drawn into a longer battle, he may either stumble or be wounded by attacks.

After allowing Kerry to coast through the New Hampshire primary virtually unscathed, his opponents have now unleashed a barrage of criticism, on everything from Kerry's ties to lobbyists to his past statements on affirmative action.

Regardless of what happens on Feb. 3, Kerry may have to contend with Dean for a while, with the former Vermont governor indicating he plans to fight on at least through the March 2 Super Tuesday. Dean's campaign argues that voters in later primary states - particularly large states such as California, New York, and Florida - should resist a Kerry "coronation" before they've had a chance to weigh in on the selection process.

Even after the Wisconsin primary on Feb. 17, only a quarter of the total delegates needed to secure the nomination will have been chosen.

Dean has a loyal enough base of support - and, despite blowing through $40 million in the run-up to Iowa and New Hampshire, enough money coming in over the Internet - to continue, advisers say. "I think we have a candidate and a campaign uniquely able to last this out," says Paul Maslin, Dean's pollster.

Still, without posting a win soon, Dean, like all of Kerry's rivals, may find it increasingly difficult to stay in the race, especially if pressure grows from party elders to get out. Some voters, too, don't want the process to go on too long, at least in those states where they're getting a chance to vote.

Attending a Kerry rally in Kansas City, Sharman and William Robertson say they're for "whichever Democrat's left standing," though they're still deciding between Kerry and Edwards.

Dan Klinger, a weather technician at Kansas City International airport, was a Dean supporter until recently - and blames the media for "orchestrating" his downfall. But he's also content to switch his support to Kerry, saying he doesn't see that big a difference between the Democratic candidates, and just wants a nominee to emerge. "We want to get the nomination decided early in order to better take on Bush in the general election," he says.

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