These must be tough days for Paul Martin, widely considered [Canada's] prime-minister-in-waiting to a Prime Minister going nowhere fast. Mr. Martin is suffering from a serious case of frontrunneritis, a frustrating affliction given the need to keep his competitive juices bottled up until Jean Chretien finally takes his leave, likely not until at least 2000.

With Clinton, there was concern that he was not forceful enough, did not convey a sense that he will fight for change, fight for the average family. Fear of front-runner-itis is well-founded; he doesn't need to be angrier at his opponents, just angrier at the status quo.

Both Mondale and Glenn are afflicted by what one Democratic pro calls "front-runner-itis" — the crippling need to weigh every phrase for fear of offending a potential voter.