Digby: The Crucible

The stakes in the Connecticut race seem to be getting higher among the chattering classes than among the grassroots. For the second time this week, I'm seeing one of the courtiers -- in this case the Dean --- saying that the race is the referendum on the Iraq war:

The outcome of their fight is important nationally for the meaning that will be attached. While other states such as Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio and Virginia will decide whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate, this Connecticut race constitutes perhaps the nation's clearest test on the Iraq war.