"Do you know that nobody - no one, zero - in the public asks me questions about that?" he said, cordial but exasperated. "That's because no one's interested. My life has moved on; everybody's life has moved on."

In the final analysis, if it comes down to character, then Hart says bring it on. "I don't think you define character by one mistake," he said. "I think you define ch---aracter by a person's total contributions with their lives."

"He's answered the question over and over," said Andrea Hart, 38, a policy analyst for a Denver non-profit foundation. "It's been long gone for my family for years and years," she said, annoyance and wistfulness percolating in her voice. "I cringe whenever it comes up completely out of context in stories, as it has for 15 years. "Frankly, it's kind of ridiculous."

We couldn't agree more, and as the country moves closer towards war and economic collapse under Bush, anyone who cares more about what someone did 15 years ago in their personal life (remember, he was not President at the time, not in the Oval Office or on government property, not "on duty," he didn't lie once it hit the headlines--in fact, he acknowledged it and apologized)--seriously ought to examine their own heads. Let the Republicans bring it up--it will be viewed as a smokescreen and acknowledgement they can't compete or win on the issues. Democratic voters will see through that in a "hartbeat." How about fundraising? Is he too handicapped in that area? We don't think so.

David Axelrod, a Democratic consultant, told The New York Times, "You can't count him out because there won't be one smarter candidate. And he knows how to run unconventional campaigns - like Ho Chi Minh, he can live off the land." Hart himself is relatively sanguine on the prospect of fund-raising. He says he wants to run a "primary of ideas," adding, "If you have powerful ideas, the support and money will come." He almost boasts, "If it's decided by who has the best ideas and who's best prepared to govern, I'll win."

Which brings us to, does Hart really think he can win? The answer is a resounding yes.

"Yes. Oh yes, oh yes," he said. "I have a broader and deeper experience than anyone in the race - and not just in foreign policy and national security. I am distinctive in understanding the terrorist threat better than anyone else. I've thought longer and deeper about where America is heading than anyone else. I'm better prepared to be president than anyone in this race." And when will he decide if he's in the race? "The end of March or April; I can't be more specific," he said, adding, "A new imponderable is the war. If troops are going into combat, I don't think people want candidates announcing their intentions to run."

As writer John Meadows concludes in his Rocky Mountain News profile today,

So for now, Hart will travel the country, giving speeches, gauging the reaction to his primary of ideas, doing everything he can to alert his country to the peril it faces. And whether or not he does run, life must feel good. People are listening, the media is interested and he's performing public service. After 16 years of being marooned on the sidelines, Gary Hart is back on the field.

Since his decision is still weeks away, we encourage you to get to know him in the meantime. Read his speeches at GaryHartNews.com. Listen to him and judge for yourselves on Monday, when he'll be appearing both on CNN on Inside Politics (4 p.m. EST) and Larry King Live (9 p.m. EST).

If you're in the Denver-Boulder area, you can listen to him in person this coming Thursday, 7:30 pm, at the University of Colorado, Duane Physics and Astrophysics Building, admission free and open to the public.

The Rocky Mountain News is conducting a poll today, the question is "Should Gary Hart Run for President." Go over and vote --you can include comments.

We communicate regularly with Gary Hart's media team and will continue our in-depth reporting on Hart through the time he makes his decision. So check back frequently for our "Hart Monitor" updates.