New York City -- Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the doctor-turned-politician running for President, offered a diagnosis yesterday of the other top Democrats in the race: "They need a backbone transplant."

During a whirlwind day in New York City, Dean threw more of the rhetorical elbows that have begun to annoy his rivals for the party's nomination.

Asked by powerful health care union boss Dennis Rivera about Dean's reputation among some that he's a "wonderful candidate ... from a very small state [who] has little chance" to win, Dean replied, "If you had said that in January, you might have made a case, but it's April [and] we raised almost as much money as [Missouri Rep.] Dick Gephardt and [Connecticut Sen.] Joe Lieberman did in the first quarter."

At a union forum on health care, Dean added, "I am now tied with [Massachusetts Sen.] John Kerry for the lead in New Hampshire. I think we're in pretty good shape, and I think we're going to beat the living daylights out of these other candidates because they need a backbone transplant."

Dean struck a similar note earlier with the Daily News Editorial Board, suggesting he's willing to draw contrasts between himself and President Bush in ways his rivals are not.

"The only way to beat this President is to go right at him, say, 'This is where I disagree with him, this is why,'" he said.

"I don't think you can beat this President with somebody who says, 'I didn't think [Bush's] tax cuts were okay, but last week I voted for $350 billion of them.'"

Chris Lehane, an adviser to Kerry, the four-term senator who polls show is a leading candidate in the race, said, "John Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for his service to his country. I really don't think that Howard Dean wants to get into a compare and contrast on courage and backbone."

Opposed Iraq war

One issue where Dean has broken with Bush and rival Democrats is his opposition to the war in Iraq. Although Dean said he's glad Saddam Hussein is gone, he still believes the war was a bad idea because it gives a license to other nations "to attack somebody they don't like." He added that he believes Saddam had chemical and biological weapons but posed no "immediate threat" to America.

Asked whether his opposition to a war that a majority of Americans backed would make it harder for him to win, he said, "It remains to be seen."

"The only way to beat George Bush is to be as very direct and clear as he is. The reason people like George Bush has not much to do with his policies. It has to do with the fact he has a clear, unambiguous message."

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