THE BIG-NAME ENDORSEMENTS for Howard Dean began as the Iowa caucuses drew near. In December, Al Gore, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2000, lauded the ex-Vermont governor as “the only major candidate” who was right about Iraq. Gore urged Democratic voters to halt their infighting and rally behind Dean’s antiwar crusade. He added this grave note: “I don’t think the stakes have ever been as high in our lifetime.”

Gore was followed by Bill Bradley, who called Dean “the Harry Truman of our time.” Next came Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, who insisted Dean would “give Americans the opportunity to take our country back.” And last weekend, Jimmy Carter offered a semi-endorsement, saying he’s “particularly grateful” to Dean for sharply opposing the war in Iraq. Carter’s son, Chip, had already joined the Dean campaign.