The "Dean prospers via the web" theme is getting more press than the hunt for Saddam Hussein. An interesting chain: press discovers blogs, candidate discovers blogs, press discovers candidate who discovers blogs. This chunk of "Wow, it works!" comes from the New York Times.

Howard Dean's prominence among the nine Democrats running for president is largely attributable to his campaign's early embrace of the Internet for organizing supporters and raising money.

Dr. Dean, a former governor of Vermont, has generated more money and attention online than any other candidate, through direct appeals and a growing base of supporters who are hooking up on a Web site called Meetup.com, which enables people with like interests to connect and meet.

In 1996 it was talk shows ("Clinton must be cool ... just look how he managed Oprah!"); in 2004 it's going to be the web (including blogs).

Update: Here's a link to the post of this story at Dean's Blog For America.