You know that your candidacy is kaput when even a liberal paper like the Inquirer writes an editorial like this:

Boosters of Dean's candidacy as an irresistible force of fresh thinking can draw no comfort from his distant third-place finish. But what happened in the caucus rooms did the campaign less damage than what its candidate did on live television afterward.

It is hard to explain the good doctor's performance Monday night without turning to the phrase "demonic possession."

Bellowing in Spanish and seemingly unable to stop screaming the names of states with upcoming primaries, Dean looked and sounded out of control. Who let the dogs out, doc?

Dean will be very fortunate indeed if those few, irretrievable minutes on stage do not turn out to be his "Canuck letter" moment, referring to the momentary, teary breakdown that finished Edmund Muskie in 1972.

Emphasis mine.