In case you hadn't heard: Howard Dean is running for president. Why politicians' "announcement of the announcement" silliness:

It's like when you get engaged," says Simmons of the Graham campaign. "You don't actually have the engagement party the day you get engaged."

Post writer Mark Leibovich helps extend the analogy:

In the case of his candidate, Simmons says, Graham proposed to the country in February, but he didn't hold his engagement party until May. Howard Dean's engagement party starts at noon. In lieu of presents, send satellite trucks.