Howard Dean was courting the women's vote at a Women for Dean rally yesterday in Hooksett, N.H., with the help of C-Span cameras carrying the action live.

But it turned ugly after the rally when he ordered his aides to remove his politically shy wife, Judith Steinberg Dean.

"Get her out," he said. "Get her out. Get her out."

The cameras and microphones caught it all.

Earlier, Dr. Steinberg had introduced the candidate. They even exchanged loving glances.

But, inexplicably, Dr. Dean turned into Mr. Hyde.

Dean's campaign has been in freefall since an appearance just after the Iowa caucuses in which he appeared less than presidential.

Dean even alluded to that speech recently in a TV interview.

Diane Sawyer of ABC News showed what has become known as "the screech" during an interview with both Dean and his wife.

Dean acknowledged on the program that his performance not "presidential," but said he was not "apologetic."

"Was it over the top? Sure it was over the top," he said. "Do I do things that are a little nutty? Sure, I do things that are a little nutty. Last night, I went to a hockey game, my son got an assist on the first goal, I went 'Yahoo,' and jumped up in the air," he added. "That's presidential? Probably not. So, I'm a dad, I'm a human being, I'm going to keep being a dad and a human being."