From WaPo:

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has cultivated -- and developed -- an image of being a straight talker, someone who shoots from the proverbial hip without first running his thoughts by a focus group. But the former Vermont governor is finding that his outspokenness can get him in trouble.

Last week, Dean issued what was his third apology to a rival presidential candidate. After telling the Associated Press that he did not consider Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) a "top tier candidate," Dean recanted, telling the news service that he regretted the remark.