The Democrats: The Best and Brightest, the Worst and Dimmest

NEW FACES. John Kennedy Jr. At last, a third-generation Kennedy who is easy to embrace. He had the grace to be nervous and the good sense to be brief . . . Jesse Jackson Jr., a natural speaker and compelling presence. When Jackson says, "I may not get there, but my children will," this is what he means . . . Sandra Perlmutter, the hot-pink sidekick to Madam Secretary Dorothy Bush, became the Vanna White of the Omni during Wednesday's roll call. She had trouble with some numbers, but no one seemed to notice.

FACE-LIFT. Edward Kennedy, finally looking 20 lbs....