It's a week of primary importance

One day after Iowa, the Dean campaign picks up the pieces, while Kerry and Edwards pick up steam.

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The red signs sprouting along New Hampshire roads have a succinct message for Democratic voters.

"Doubting Dean? Vote Kerry," say the signs, put up by a labor union supporting the Massachusetts senator's campaign.

With Sen. John Kerry's surprising victory in the Iowa caucuses, his campaign seems well positioned for next Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. Kerry has a team of seasoned veterans and a sober style starkly different from that of Howard Dean, the fiery former governor from Vermont. Many Democrats have opted for Kerry because they believe he has the best chance of beating President Bush.

But despite Kerry's advantages, it was clear Tuesday that the New Hampshire race is wide open. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark has been drawing huge crowds and moving up quickly in the polls. The four-star general subtly tried to put himself above the Massachusetts senator by reminding voters that he outranked Kerry, a Navy lieutenant in the Vietnam War. He called Kerry "a junior officer."

Dean placed third in Iowa but still leads most New Hampshire polls. He has a formidable campaign, passionate supporters and truckloads of money that will allow him to dominate the airwaves.

"We've got the resources to compete here," said Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi, who looked weary after only 21/2 hours of sleep Tuesday. "We're the insurgents. We run really well when we're the insurgents."

The Kerry campaign moved swiftly to take advantage of its Iowa victory. After Rep. Dick Gephardt declared he was dropping out of the race Tuesday afternoon, the Kerry campaign announced it had won endorsements from 25 Gephardt supporters.

The "Doubting Dean?" signs seemed to be popping up everywhere, prompting Dean state director Karen Hicks to call them "a cheap political gimmick." The Kerry campaign says the signs were an independent effort by the International Association of Firefighters, and that Kerry did not request them.

Kerry did not mention Dean or any other rival by name Tuesday, but he told reporters that "If we are going to beat George Bush, I believe we need a nominee who has experience in international relations and foreign affairs. I also believe it's important to have a president who has years of experience in domestic issues."

Kerry said he was "the only candidate in this race who brings the full package to the table."

James Pindell, managing editor of the PoliticsNH newsletter, said Kerry is in a prime position to take advantage of his Iowa victory.

"His campaign has people who know how to win up here, they know where to go, they know how to create buzz," he said.

By contrast, Dean's staffers are not as experienced and don't know the nuances of New Hampshire politics, Pindell said.

The latest tracking poll from the American Research Group, taken Jan. 17-19, had Dean with 28 percent, Kerry with 20 percent and Clark at 19. Sen. John Edwards, who finished a strong second in Iowa, had 8 percent but has been gaining ground. With his momentum from Iowa, he may exceed expectations in New Hampshire.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, at 7 percent, has not been much of a factor. He has had a difficult time recapturing the support that made him a popular vice presidential candidate four years ago. Some Democrats say they prefer a fresh face while others say he is too supportive of President Bush.

Clark has tried to distinguish himself by emphasizing his experience commanding NATO troops. When he was asked about Kerry's military record Monday night, Clark replied, "It's one thing to be a hero as a junior officer. He's done that and I respect him for that. He's been a good senator. But I've had the military leadership at the top as well as the bottom."

Dean was criticized for the bellowing speech he gave to Iowa supporters after he placed third in the caucuses. Leon Panetta, a chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton, said on CNN that Dean's performance makes voters "a little nervous" about whether he can be president.

When Dean was asked about his performance Tuesday, he said that the speech was aimed at supporters who had spent weeks in Iowa and that "I felt I owed them" some passion.

On Tuesday, Dean was uncharacteristically subdued in a campaign speech to supporters in Manchester. He emphasized his record balancing the state budget when he was Vermont's governor.

Campaign strategists said a key lesson in the Iowa caucus was that many voters don't like negative tactics.

Kerry and Edwards appeared to benefit from negative TV ads aired by Dean and Gephardt. Voters said they were fed up with such attacks.

By contrast, Kerry ran several well-received ads touting his war record and his compassion for middle class Americans.

Trippi, Dean's campaign manager, said the negative ads caused serious damage to Dean: "They just beat the living daylights out of us."

- Times political editor Adam Smith contributed to this report.

John Kerry20

John Edwards18

Howard Dean7

Wesley Clark0

Dennis Kucinich0

Joe Lieberman0

Al Sharpton0

Uncommitted0

- 99 percent of precincts reporting

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