Sheen backing Vermont Demo for president

The man who plays the president on television is backing an ex-governor who wants to be president.

Actor Martin Sheen, who portrays President Josiah Bartlet on NBC's "The West Wing," endorsed Democrat Howard Dean last week when Vermont's former chief executive dropped by the set — on location, by the way, in Washington.

Sheen thinks Dean is "the best possible hope for the Democrats because he's not afraid to lose," said Glennis Liberty, the actor's publicist.

Dean's staff happily pointed out that the fictional Bartlet, like Dean, is a former governor of a New England state and a Democrat. Both also are married to physicians.