Reagan more than mobilized his base...ever heard of Reagan Democrats?
Dude, get a grip . . . ever heard of Dixiecrats? Jesse Helms all but singlghandedly propped up Reagan's Southern campaign in 1976. The same people that voted for Jesse (over and over again in North Carolina) are the people that voted for Reagan. These people were Democrats in registration only . . . just like old school Dems: Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, Elizabeth Dole, Richard Shelby, Fred Thompson (granted you could argue he was just "acting"). And of course the newest member; Zell Miller . . . albeit he's more reasonable than a lot of southern Republicans.
My point . . . which you clearly missed:
1) Dean has broad support amongst Democrats despite moderates saying he's too liberal (like many hardcore Republicans thought about CA Republican Reagan).
2) Dean has significant support amongst moderates despite his war stance b/c he was on balance a fiscal moderate/conservative as governor (Reagan was sort of a moderate/conservative although he did raise (and cut) taxes in CA).
3) Due to #1 and #2 he has significant appeal amongst people with enough brain cells not to have a
strong force attraction to either of the major political parties.
4) Bush had more gravitas than Reagan. Reagan played a hero. Bush was a hero. CIA director. Successful businessman (we won't discuss his connections) granted it was the business of drilling for oil in Texas . . . anybody could do that
. . . well almost anybody.
5) Clark's uniform looks like a Christmas tree. His resume reads like a wish list for the intelligent, upwardly mobile. Warrior, scholar, arguably goody goody . . . unless you ask Hugh Shelton.
In essence, Bush (the Greater) and Clark have earned their accolades with a record of achievement . . . yet most of the attention is going to the lightweights with charisma and a message.