Chris Matthews History Lesson

We all make mistakes, but I hold journalists to a somewhat higher standard.  So I was a little dismayed when Chris Matthews, in the closing monologue of his weekend show, referred to Howard Dean as the former governor of one of the thirteen original colonies.  I assume Matthews knew Dean was the governor of Vermont (and no other state), so I figure he made Vermont an honorary colony.  He was trying to make a point about Dean's revolutionary spirit, and Vermont did contribute greatly in our revolution, but it was not a colony.  Matthews should know this, and at the very least he should have had someone on his staff who knows this.  This was not an off-the-cuff remark, but part of a prepared closing remark that I'm guessing was on a teleprompter.  I know I'm nitpicking a little here, but is too much to ask somebody on a nationally syndicated news show to be able to name the thirteen original colonies?