I back Obama -- and pay homage to Dean

Rupert's read is behind Barack Obama in his bid for the Presidential nomination in the States. But this blog also wants to pay homage to the man (and his campaign) who more than anything else made Obama's bold bid possible. Howard Dean was the first mover, here. Obama would not be anywhere near where he is now, if it hadn't have been for Howard Dean. Dean led the way on anti-Iraq-war candidates being possible in the States; he led the way in an internet-based insurgency; he led the way in mass campaigning (via the internet and Move On, and on the ground -- I strongly recommend here the incredibly-inspiring book by his Campaign Manager: the genius, the new Carville, Joe Trippi, 'The revolution will not be televised'). Obama is probably narrowly going to beat Clinton (though watch out for some of those sleazy super-delegates), because of the size of his base and because (crucially) of the fund-raising base this gives him. As Trippi clearly describes, that was what the Dean campaign pioneered -- it was Dean/Trippi who made possible the incredible swing of money towards Obama that we see in 2008, confounding pundits.
Now that Edwards is out of the race (a matter of great regret -- a fight for the nomination between Obama and Edwards would have been much better for progressives/greens), the ex-Dean-'machine' is virtually 100% behind Obama. These factors are what will probably give Obama the edge, and enable him, against huge odds, to prevail in gaining the Democratic nomination (and he, unlike Clinton, will probably just about manage to beat McCain).
Interesting times...
p.s. Yes, before you ask: If Nader were running / if the Green Party were making a serious bid for the Presidency this time, I would of course back them instead...