This exchange happened today on CNN's Wolf Blitzer show:

BLITZER: Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor, in all the latest polls coming in second right now, at least in New Hampshire. He really went after John Kerry earlier in the week, in fact yesterday. Listen to what he said. He said this:

"Here is a gentleman who is running who votes no in 1991, when there are Iraqi troops in Kuwait and the oil wells are on fire, and then votes yes in 2002 and then there turns out not to be a threat. I would be deeply concerned about that kind of judgment in the White House."

That's Howard Dean, what he said yesterday.

KENNEDY: Well, I think it's a little desperate, quite frankly. And I don't know, I didn't hear Governor Dean speak during that period of time about that particular involvement that we had over in the Gulf, but there's no question that John Kerry has the qualities of leadership. Although he had questions about going to Vietnam, he responded to the requirements of service. Served his country, led the veterans. He's never left anybody behind; honored for bravery and courage.

If Dean stays in the race all the way to the convention - in Boston - a Kerry-Dean battle has the makings of an ugly, ugly fight.

However, while using Ted Kennedy as a campaign surrogate might work well in Iowa and New England, once the campaign turns South, look for Kennedy to leave the picture and Max Cleland to take over that job.