''Dean: West Fertile Ground for Democrats''

"HELENA, Mont. - The Rocky Mountain West, long a Republican stronghold, is fertile ground for Democrats hoping to take back Congress and the White House in coming years, Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean told supporters here Saturday. Democrats have more in common with Westerners than the GOP, the former Vermont governor said. They appreciate the free-spirited, independent thinking that dominate states like Montana, and understand the wish for a balanced budget and a strong military, as well as treating soldiers well when they get home, something Dean said the Bush administration has neglected."-from last night's AP story.