Difference between Lieberman and Dean campaigns

[diplomats]

Check out this post on Josh Marshall's blog, http://talkingpointsmemo.com

An interesting email from one of my favorite New Dem-leaning correspondents in Washington DC.
We'll call him Mr R ...
I thought you might be interested in my recent experience as a Democratic contributor. In the last year I've given $100 each to (1) Joe Lieberman, since he's a New Dem from way back and his DLCish instincts generally match my own, and (2) more recently, Howard Dean, because he's interesting and smart and, while I don't much like his current lefty trendline, at bottom I think he's a moderate.
Well. I got a couple of half-hearted follow-ups from the Lieberman camp last year, but absolutely nothing in the last six months or more, even though now is when they're starting to need the money, and a candidate's prior contributors are the folks he should be putting the strongest touch on. But, from Joe, at least to me, silence. Reminds me strongly of the hapless Gore operation - I gave thousands of dollars to Gore, even going back to his Senate years, and it took his campaign forever even to get my name right and figure out I was a supporter.
But from the Doctor! I've gotten half a dozen (correctly addressed!) follow-up letters in the couple of months since I sent him a check, and I'm obviously on his main direct-mail list, all on the strength of one contribution. VERY impressive operation on the technical side, and it certainly makes me more likely to contribute again.

[KG]

1. the difference is dean and his movement know what going on.

and it's no mystery why holy joe's campaign ain't hitting up dems for money. he's taking it from repooks, since from his rhetoric its clear joe's his courting the republican vote.

[Ediacara]

2. I gave Dean $50 a few months ago

over the net and I get an almost daily barage of campaign info in the real mail as well as contribution solicitations. I think they've actually spent over $50 sending me stuff (paper, envelopes, postage etc) :-)

Ya... long story short, they have their act together more than any campaign I've been even a small part of (Gore, Locke, Cantwell, Baucus..). Dean's team has the fundraising power to beat back any "unelectable" crap thrown at them.

I have a hunch Dean might actually be the first Dem in my memory that has more money than the Republicans in the general (if I'm wrong on this, tell me). That would be INCREADIBLE.

[caledesi]

3. DB...Your hunch is right.

After Dean so smartly led the challenge to raise more money than Cheney's little dinner party (w/o leaving the house), I think he could ask supporters for anything and they would give and give and give.

As to how well the Dean campaign is being run, in general, geez...I have donated $25 about 3-4 times and I get mail all the time including a beautiful color postcard (5 x 7) of Dean. I LOVE it!

[Larkspur]

4. Dean's the first Democrat who figured out that old business concept

called "customer service" and put it to work for his campaign.

The reason why he gets his base excited and willing to contribute more is that he treats us with RESPECT, and in turn he earns our loyalty. Dean and Trippi also makes it fun to contribute -- using the money raised during the Cheney Challenge to develop and air ads in Texas attacking Bush. That tactic makes us feel like our contributions are doing something worthwhile.