http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/129765p-115983c.html
no, not chris lehane--he's been scooped up by clark--but as the race for the democratic nomination grows more claustrophobic, howard dean signed on gray davis' "puke politics" consultant ace smith to relieve some pressure.
(snip)
"I'm trying to be really low-key," he told me. "My name appearing in a newspaper somewhere doesn't do me a whole lot of good. I'm not doing anything tremendously interesting anyway.
(snip)
As for rival campaigns that might accuse Dean of hypocrisy for recruiting this hired gun, "Personally, I think it's laughable," Smith said. "Gimme a break. I don't think anyone cares about who the consultants are anyway."
Dean campaign spokesman Jay Carson told me: "Whenever you get attacked by a bunch of Washington insiders, it's good to have someone on your side who knows them well."
especially when you've already gone on the offensive, eh doc?
anyway, my point in posting this isn't to defend clark, but to defend the eventual democratic candidate, who will most definitely need to have top advisors who can best deflect rove's assaults. better they consult with our candidates now than later, right? and now we clarkies don't have to suffer through any more "top-down, old dem insider" smears.