I dig Digby...

...for many reasons, not the least of which is his diligence in digging around the memory hole for the much needed note of reassurance.

One reason that I'm such a strong subscriber to the "Don't Panic" approach to the Kerry campaign is simple longevity. Those of us that were 4JKB4IA have lived through this before. "He need to attack!" "The staff sucks!" "He sounds like a...a...a Senator!"

Uh-huh.

Remember this? Digby does...

With the Jan. 27 New Hampshire primary looming and Dean holding a commanding lead in the state, the pressure on Kerry to break out is immense. But even on his home turf, there are troubles. In a Nov. 19-21 poll by RKM Research & Communications, he trailed Dean by 9 points in Massachusetts. What's the problem? Kerry's detached sang-froid seems to pale in the face of Dean's fiery populist orations. "Dean is having a virtual coronation in New Hampshire," says a Democratic strategist. "If you're second, you have to take the guy down. Kerry isn't making Dean play defense."

No, it doesn't mean we've won...yet. There's much to be done, and we all have a hand in doing it. But we've been through this before. Panic wasn't the solution then. It isn't the solution now.

Work hard. Fight back. And...well, you know the drill.