It was not just a Dean-Kerry smile off, but a Dean-Kerry "creepy smile off." And Kerry was actually robbed in my opinion...I'll take it as a sign that we have arrived.
Ah, that's right! I think that Dean has a fantastic smile, and perhaps the pressure and/or nervousness surrounding this - his first national debate - showed through. Hey Howard, you need to let your passion show in those eyes. We see it every time you get fired up, and the American people need to see it too.
I just remembered--this is actually the second mention on the Daily Show. The first was just about a year ago:
Woodruff: "What about Howard Dean, the Governor of Vermont? He's running."
Stewart: "Yeah, he's got great name recognition too. He'll do great. Howard Dean, most people think he makes sausage."
Katherine, that's hilarious and I completely missed it. I probably changed the channel when Woodruff came on. Heh.
Dr. Dean is still getting on TV in contrast to others. What does he have to do to get some real time dedicated to his platform. It's also true he's gotta work on the comfort level of his speaking. I saw him speak at the NYC Stand Up! event and he was halting even expressing his own thoughts on his own stage. This being the third Stand Up event in as many days (or less) he's got t be tuckered. Maybe some running in the morning to clear his head. Road work might also get him some B-Roll on the news.
Katherine,
Yea, I remember that. Stewart asked Judy who the Democrats had to run against Bush other than Gore or something to that effect, Judy said Dean was running, and Stewart made the sausage comment.
That was the moment I fully-committed to Dean. I don't exactly know why. To that point I had never read one of his speeches and I'd yet to hear the sound of his voice. All I knew about him was what I could find on the Governor's site, the Fund For A Healthy America site (I think the site was up then) and the Profile in Courage essay. At the time (early 2002) there was maybe (emphasize "maybe") three good write ups on the governor that could be found with a google search. I would learn most of what I knew about Dr. Dean in Cohn's piece nearly a half year after I first became intrigued.
But when Jon made the sausage maker remark, 
I said I'm backing Howard Dean for POTUS. Don't ask my why I was compelled to commit then. I think it was just a feeling.