Dean Does a Bit of Botox Needling

As the new Democratic presidential frontrunner, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry has taken jabs from all quarters about matters like his fundraising, his stance on the war in Iraq and his position on affirmative action.

Recently, another allegation has been making the rounds: that the famously craggy senator got Botox injections to smooth out the lines in his face.

Kerry has vehemently denied that charge.

On Sunday, Howard Dean, who has been taking new swipes at Kerry every day, alluded to the speculation. At a Super Bowl-themed fundraiser at a recreation center in Roseville, Mich., the former Vermont governor turned to the big-screen television and noticed Willie Nelson performing at the pregame festivities.

“Is that Willie Nelson?” Dean asked as he spoke on a phone to 70 other house-party fundraisers around the country. “It looked like he had Botox injections too.”

As his supporters laughed, a grinning Dean tried to backtrack.

“I didn’t say who the other person was!” he insisted. “I didn’t say who the other person was!”

Taking a Spin With Trippi

Meet Joe Trippi, television commentator.

He is not to be confused with Joe Trippi, Howard Dean’s former campaign manager, the much-lauded mastermind behind the Dean Internet phenomenon.

Trippi, who removed himself from the helm of Dean’s struggling campaign after a staff shake-up, has switched hats. He appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday alongside newsman Chris Matthews and other political pundits to spin the results of Tuesday’s seven state contests.

Could a book deal be around the corner?

Wrestling With Issues

Get in the game: That was the message Monday from World Wrestling Entertainment and its Smackdown Your Vote! coalition aimed at getting 18- to 30-year-olds to the polls in November. At a news conference attended by young voters from around the country, the groups unveiled an issues paper they hope will be a reminder to candidates and new voters alike.

“You are a VIP (Very Important Player) in the political process,” said the coalition, “but only if you get in the game.”

The coalition, committed to encouraging 20 million young adults to vote in November, runs the gamut from the trendy Hip-Hop Summit Action Network to the veteran League of Women Voters. The groups polled young people -- perennial stay-at-homes on election day. The upshot of the polls: Young people care about the same things as older voters, but often with a different slant.

One issue weighing on young voters’ minds: how to make sure that young adults who are living paycheck to paycheck have affordable healthcare coverage. As for education, they were less concerned about children learning the basics as they were about how to pay rising tuition costs.

The groups’ report can found on the website www.smackdownyourvote.com.

Duly Quoted

“I gave them a few little ideas; I don’t know if they are any good. All I do is sit up there and write my book, so I’m a little out of it.” -- Former President Clinton, after a political strategy meeting with Senate Democrats on Thursday.

Compiled from staff, wire and Web reports by Times staff researcher Susannah Rosenblatt.