In endorsement race, Kerry holds his own

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Some key figures ignore Dean lead

Despite John F. Kerry's sagging poll numbers in New Hampshire, one of the state's top elected officials defied convention wisdom recently: Manchester's mayor, Bob Baines, publicly embraced the Massachusetts Democrat and endorsed his campaign for their party's presidential nomination.

It was part of a pattern in which 27 prominent Granite State Democrats have thrown their backing to Kerry this year, a half-dozen of them -- including former Governor Jeanne Shaheen -- since his poll numbers peaked in August. That total, according to a tally by the politicsnh.com website, is more than three times as many who are supporting former Vermont governor Howard Dean, and almost twice the number who are backing two other candidates, Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri and Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

That pattern holds true in Iowa, which kicks off the delegate-selection process with its Jan. 19 caucuses. Kerry is running third in the polls behind Gephardt and Dean, but has gotten the endorsements of 23 of 68 Democrats in the state Legislature, including Mary Mascher, the minority whip of the House, and Senator Dennis Black of Grinnell, whose district includes the Maytag appliance headquarters and its unionized workforce. The total is more than Gephardt's and Dean's combined.

<snip>

Kerry argues that his broad, continued string of endorsements is a tangible sign of his campaign's viability. "Why do these institutional players do that?" he asked yesterday during a meeting with Globe editors and reporters. "Because they believe I can beat George Bush, because they want to run on a ticket with me, and because they believe I speak to the sort of uniting part of our party."
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2003/12/12/in_endorsement_race_kerry_holds_his_own/

[tsipple]

1. Uh, OK

Congratulations to Senator Kerry.

[CTLawGuy]

2. they may be elected officials...

but they still only get one vote....

same with Al Gore.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Yeah but Gore blows all that away

<sarcasm>

[sandnsea]

4. Kerry can unite the party

He has worked on issues that are important to every single person in America. Environment. Women's rights. GLBT. Children. Education. Veterans. Health care. Small Business. Energy. AIDS. Labor. There isn't one group of people who couldn't look at Kerry's record and find some way he helped them. He's the exact right person for this time in our history and could set the U.S. and the world on a totally new course. I think these people who have to work with policy while appealing to a cross section of voters see that.

[polpilot]

5. ..but after 3 decades in politics he's yet to be discovered by his party??

Dean '04...America's New Leader

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. What a dumb comment. Yet to be discovered?

Kerry has won a lot of elections. What are you talking about?

[molly]

10. Consider the source

they don't know what they are talking about.

[tsipple]

6. Well, But Can He Campaign?

I've been very disappointed in Kerry's campaign. I continue to be.

[sandnsea]

8. I'm thrilled with it

I've been disgusted with Dean's campaign. It makes me wonder what will become of this country if the younger generation thinks that is what democracy and politics is all about.

[tsipple]

9. That Younger People Might Have a Say in Their Government?

Oh, that would be awful. :crazy:

[sandnsea]

12. Having a say is fantastic

Thinking Presidential elections is a contact sport is something else again. This campaign has been really bad. The worst I've ever seen. Probably worse than McCain and Cleland.

[molly]

11. Many of us are disgusted by Dean's campaign

it has been a dirty evolving propaganda machine from the beginning. Some actually believe they hype to be true. I wonder how hard reality will hit them.

[sandnsea]

13. Oh I know

In the end, maybe not this year but sometime, I know the cooler heads of the young will prevail. I worry about some of these Dean kids though, I hope the older supporters remember to stay in touch with them after it's all over, especially if it goes badly.

[Sully]

14. Right again!

And in Iowa our volunteers outnumber Dean's 2-1 on the ground and in some places 10-1 and we are there NOW not 4 weeks from now! Dean's "Perfect Storm" is more likely to be snow flurries than a blizzard!