In the modern era of presidential campaigning, no candidate's spouse has been so purposefully absent from the scene as Howard Dean's wife, an internist and mother of two in Vermont. Some laud her independence and nonpolitical bent, while others see these as a liability. The other candidates' wives have played more traditional roles in the campaigns. A look at how involved they have been. --By Nadia Mustafa
JUDITH STEINBERG DEAN She loves treating patients and hopes to still practice medicine if her husband is elected to the Oval Office
GERT CLARK A community volunteer, the Army wife mingles with voters and...