Dean Skips Airing Ads in 7 Primary States

[cjbuchanan]

Howard Dean (news - web sites) will not air ads in any of the seven states holding elections next week, officials said Thursday, a risky strategy that puts him at a distinct disadvantage with high-spending rivals for the Democratic nomination.

With his money and momentum depleted, Dean decided to save his ad money for the Feb. 7 elections in Michigan and Washington state and, 10 days later, the primary in Wisconsin, said officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040129/ap_on_el_pr/dean

This is a risky shot. Add this to the Salon article that says Dean only has $3 mill left, but has a $3 mill debt, and it has not been a good news day for the doctor.

My note to anyone who likes Dean, start donating now or else he might have to fold (same advice goes to any supporters of any other candidates).

[Carl21014]

1. How does he go from the top money producer to broke?

How is it possible? How does Edwards or Lieberman run?

[Rowdyboy]

2. The whole story sounds nuts to me

Probably would help to get the real word fronm the campaign-I no longer trust the media for much of anything.

[cjbuchanan]

3. I do not have any numbers, but all those ads cost a lot

Remember when he ran the ads in Texas last August? That was a $400k ad buy. Add that to all the field offices he has plus the cost of being a front-runner (media buses and planes, bigger venues, sound equipment, etc.) and that money gets burnt fast. I read somewhere ( I think it was DailyKos) that they are spending $200k a day. If that number is true, and it sounds about right, then the $1 million they have raised since Saturday is already spent.

Again, I think that if you like Dean and want to keep him in this, you need to vote with your wallet and donate some money. The same thing goes for Clark, Kucinich, Edwards and Kerry supporters.

[J B]

5. I think I know. Trippi went for broke. Now Dean IS broke.

And why did he go for broke?

I can only think of one reason.

He had no faith that the movement would hold together under the stress of defeat, so he acted as if he had nothing to lose.

Of course, the ad company he's with also made some money, so he doesn't really lose in that sense..... but.....

Ultimately, he was done in by his own lack of faith.

And the media, of course.

[caledesi]

11. I don't understand this either. I am so depressed about Dean. nt

[NNN0LHI]

4. He has given up on the south. Internal polling must not have been good n/t

[Kahuna]

8. Right.

You're so smart and practical.

[earthside]

6. Dean is THE Hero

I have seen this happen before to campaigns ... at lower levels. It is just human nature. As the money comes in in greater quantities, the "standard of living" for the campaign goes up. When before grocery store doughnuts were good enough, suddenly Crispy Cremes are a necessity.

Plus, I think the Dean people were clearly letting the 'front runner' thing go to their heads. It's true, doing a TV buy in Texas was like putting a match to dollar bills.

Howard Dean will probably pull the plug on his campaign and go 'inactive' in the next couple of weeks. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who is going to ride a dead horse. And I think he is honest and full of enough integrity to call for unity among Democrats and progressives to defeat Bush.

Dean has been the most important candidate in this nomination process thus far ... even if he fails to get the nod. He, by himself, made the other candidates grow back bones and address issues they were reluctant to take on.

Believe me, Howard Dean is THE hero of the 2004 Democratic Party nomination campaign.
:toast:

[J B]

7. Dean was nothing without the movement.

He was just an interesting centrist governor from Vermont who'd achieved impressive things in a fish bowl.

The only heroism was an act of political desperation and hot-headedness masked by the 'courage' to oppose the party establishment.

The only heroes are the young liberals who chose to let their voices be heard.

Their voices were heard.

And ignored.

The establishment wins again.

Enjoy.

[cjbuchanan]

10. I say this as an undecided

Now is not the time to give up on Dean. He could still turn this around, but only if those young liberals do not flee. If you believe in him, go donate $20. Call your friends and tell them that if they want to keep Dean in this, they need to give $20+.

I remember saying the same thing to Kerry supporters just six weeks ago.

Don't get angry, get organized.

[progressivebydesign]

16. The movement was nothing without Howard Dean n/t

[caledesi]

12. Great post earth...I agree, if it weren't for HD, do you think any

of the other candidates ('cept Kucinich) would be calling this pResident on what he is? HD made them take the pink tutus off.

[Barkley]

25. Although I'm a Clark Supporter

I believe that Dean's grassroot campaign style is important
necesary for a real revival of true democracy in this country.

The Dean's people are so genuine and dedicated; its a spirit that
I've never seen in a presidential campaign -- Its a bottom up MOVEMENT rather than a top-down campaign.

In that sense I see Dean more of 'threat' than Al Sharpton.
Like Sharpton, Dean is a challenge to politics as usual and the established and entrenched powers that be.

I went to a Dean rally at UCLA last fall. The auditorium was packed and Trippi, not Dean was the guest speaker.

Trippi was good with crowd and he repeatedly gave credit to the audience for the campaign's success.

I hope Dean's new campaign manager Neel is able to keep the rank-and-file supporters enthusastic. It would be a shame to see all that vibrant and creative energy snuffed out.

[Archae]

9. No doubt I'll see Dean ads then soon.

I live in Wisconsin, (Sheboygan specifically,) and I'm already seeing ads for Clark.

The ads don't go after any of the other democrats, but really blast Smirk and his Iraq war farce.

[MaineDem]

13. I heard the cost of the ads are getting more expensive, too

The markets in NH and Iowa are smaller and so costs are less than, say, Phoenix and St. Louis.

[Gman]

14. Dean committed the cardinal sin in politics

Dean peaked too soon.

Kerry has yet to peak.

[progressivebydesign]

15. A couple points...

1. This article states rather sneakily, that Dean has run out of money and "momentum". Really? Momentum? He continues to raise thousands of dollars hourly (we're just about at the million dollars on the Bat since Sunday), he's seeing 3 to 6 thousand new people signing up on his internet campaign daily (still). While I understand they are reporting about the money... there is no reason to say he has lost his momentum. Okay. So, a candidate doesn't come in first in two states, it's over? I guess we can all move along now.. Kerry is our nominee.. don't waste your time. Not!

2. The whole Trippi leaving thing has something to do with the money being gone. This was discussed last night at length in another forum. And, was reported here and there in the media. Dean, it would appear, was pretty upset finding out that he was out of money. His media advice left a lot to be desired. And.. there are questions as to the the wisdom of having your Media Advisor and Campaign Manager be your ad agency, thereby getting 15% of your 30 million dollar ad purchases. Dean spent a ton on ads.. and the people that advised him got around 3 million from them. Also, there were expenditures that were just stupid.. pizza for a couple thousand people, etc. The infamous Dean line of yesterday, "how could you do this to me?" was also widely reported.

Dean is really an underdog now. He is reportedly broke. This is a tragedy. He is saying the things that America needed to hear. He changed the dialogue of the Democrats, and energized the voters. I think he can pull out of this situation. He is not finished. But he's learned a hard lesson about establishment politics... it'll eat you up. America says they are tired of business as usual candidates, but they get scared and flock to them every time. Defeating Bush is so important to so many people, I suppose their fear is understandable. I can't recall a time when an election has been so important.

Go Dean. The primary season needs you, lest we sink into a colorless morass of business as usual as we stomp to November.

[Merlin]

18. I don't think the American people are that forgiving.

He's made several key mistakes and people don't want a guy who does that running the country.

Howard will be remembered as the guy who got it all going. But I'm afraid it's all over for him this year.

[lostnfound]

23. Sure they do. Look at "miserable failure", who bombs at hallucinations. nt

[Debi]

24. Oh, come on...

John Kerry can get manicures and botox and he's the ideal candidate? are the tax payers going to have to pay for his 'prettyness'? Remember Clinton and the $200.00 haircut? Oh, wait, remember Gennifer Flowers? we do forgive...we do forget....

[Terran]

19. I'd say losing in New Hampshire...

...which is Dean's backyard, is a loss of momentum. If he can't win there or Iowa, then many other states become very dicey. Anyone aware of a state where he's actually leading in the polls?

This probably belongs in that other forum, btw.

[okieinpain]

17. sorry, but wasn't the doc suppose to have 40million. if he has

already gone through that, he needs to call it a day.

[Shylock]

20. got my fork out

ready to stick it in Dean.

[jansu]

21. HOW?

If the money is gone, one needs to find out how! I would think it was fraud on someones part. He is a man of fiscal responsibility and I don't buy into his spending the money unwisely. Someone has done a number on him.....

Not only on the money, but on the poll numbers.

How does someone lose 50 points in 1 week? Unless you are found with a dead girl or a live boy, it can't be done. (And, please don't say "the yell". It was a rally and worth about one cycle of the news media's time. But you have seen it endlessly. THEY have taken him out, making it seem like something so bad, that you could not trust him to be President)! How did Kerry gain 50 points in a few weeks? Don't know what he had to do to gain that....but makes me think that the "powers that be" had to overcome the "little people" who were going to nominate and probably defeat Bush with someone not in their control.


I have not supported Dean, don't know who I want, other than anyone (except Lieberman) but Bush! And I will work very hard in the "RED STATES" to turn them into "BLUE STATES"!

BUT, IF YOU WANT TRUE CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY, SEND IN YOUR MONEY TO DEAN AND GET OUT THE VOTE FOR HIM. THIS IS JUST WRONG, WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO HIM!

THIS IS AN ELECTION, NOT AN AUCTION!

Someone needs to look into the numbers. The Republicans control the voting machines and who do you think they want Bush to run against? Not Dean!

After writing this, I guess it finally shows me, and now you, that I am a Dean supporter! Or that I don't support anyone else!

[Debi]

22. I gotta question the logic

of his campaign manager spending $10 mil in Iowa and $5 mil in NH on ads...oh, wait, Trippi was paid 15% of the ad buys...I bet he's the highest paid campaign manager (or former campaign manager) around.

And...if he believed in the cause, why didn't he stay on in an advisory roll? Greed.

Dean's the man...he just needs to have people he can trust around him.