Dean a formidable foe (GOP Admits to underestimating Dean)

[Khephra]

Dean a formidable foe
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Republican Party officials and political advisers to President Bush admit that they underestimated Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean and say they now consider him a formidable potential adversary.

Some Bush allies say he reminds them of another insurgent candidate who once bedeviled Bush: Arizona Sen. John McCain. His wins in Republican primary elections in New Hampshire and Michigan rattled Bush's 2000 campaign.

"There is something going on there, and I tell you, if we don't pay attention ... we're making a big mistake," says Tom Rath, a Republican strategist and Bush adviser in New Hampshire.

snip..........

Other Republicans say Dean will fade. Interviews with 15 GOP leaders found consensus on one point: If Dean wins the first two contests, Iowa's caucuses Jan. 19 and New Hampshire's primary, he'll win the nomination.

more..............

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-09-07-dean-usat_x.htm

[Terran]

1. Kick n/t

[AWD]

2. Amazing...

WASHINGTON — Republican Party officials and political advisers to President Bush admit that they underestimated Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean and say they now consider him a formidable potential adversary.

Amazing how Republicans can admit it while some Dems run around still refusing to.

People-powered Howard, baby!!!!!!!!!

[Prodemsouth]

3. I am skeptical of anything these guys say. Could it be a 'please don't

throw us into the briar patch'. Please don't consider this a Dean bash. It is not. I like Dean, but I am still concerned about some things. so lets think before we celebrate.

[Ediacara]

4. well Dean has been labeled everything by the GOP

from Karl Rove's wet-dream to formidable opponent.

[BushGone04]

5. Interesting

I think it's interesting, and indicative of Dean's success thus far, that some GOP folks are worried about him. But it's worth noting that, although McCain did give Bush some trouble, Bush ultimately beat him handily for the nomination. It's pretty clear that other Democratic candidates are trying to set up a "firewall" for Dean in South Carolina, much as Bush did for McCain in 2000, and chances are that they will be joined in this effort by the "party establishment." If Dean continues to lead in Iowa and New Hampshire, Kerry might still have a chance if he can push his war-hero status in South Carolina (as he did in his official declaration last week) and his Catholic faith in heavily-Catholic Michigan (remember how much Bush's trip to Bob Jones University hurt him with Catholic voters in Michigan), thereby winning those primaries and regaining the momentum. The odds certainly aren't good for anyone else if Dean wins Iowa and NH, but I think it would be a stretch to say the race is entirely over if he does.