Dean boosts N.H., Iowa bids

[pruner]

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff, 10/11/2003

Flush with cash after a record-breaking fund-raising effort, the presidential campaign of Howard Dean is raising the stakes in Iowa and New Hampshire, where Dean victories could cripple a pair of major rivals.

<snip>

Iowa is a virtual must-win test for Representative Richard A. Gephardt of neighboring Missouri. New Hampshire is equally crucial for Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts. Dean's staffing moves raise the stakes for both.

In Iowa, the Dean campaign says it is in the process of adding about 50 new organizers, which will increase the paid staff there to around 110, roughly double the Iowa payrolls of Gephardt and Kerry. The campaign also plans this month to increase from nine to 14 the number of its field offices in the state, said Sarah Leonard, Dean's spokeswoman in Iowa.

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, Dean plans to add 10 more operatives, bringing the campaign's payroll there to 70 people, Karen Hicks, the campaign's New Hampshire director, said. The Dean operation will also open a 12th campaign office in the state, which is one-sixth the size of Iowa and less than half as populous.

Kerry's campaign countered last week, announcing it has hired nine more employees, six of them organizers, in the Granite State, increasing its presence there to 50 workers in 10 offices.

Gephardt's campaign declined to disclose the number of paid staff it has in Iowa. But Bill Burton, the campaign's Iowa press secretary, downplayed Dean's payroll advantage. Gephardt's deep support among organized labor, a sophisticated and potent force in caucus politics, will be more of a factor, he contended.

<snip>

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/primaries/new_hampshire/articles/2003/10/11/dean_boosts_nh_iowa_bids/

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. If Dean has to hire all these paid staff

then it's not exactly grassroots then is it?

[Duder]

2. Actually it is...

The ability to be able to hire more staff was financed by the 'grassroots'.

WTG Dean! :)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Of course I know that.

however, were Dean the true black hole of independent and disaffected voters then they would naturally gravitate into his orbit with or without money. And the fact is we have no idea how much money actually came from Bush operatives seeking to disrupt the Democratic primary. So we will see how much money came from the grass and how much from the weeds.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. Hmmm.

And the fact he is we have no idea how much money actually came from Bush operatives seeking to disrupt the Democratic primary.



Does the Kerry campaign hand out :tinfoilhat:'s at the door? Crikey!

[killbotfactory]

8. GI JFK is the rightful heir to the democratic nomination!

Dean is a disrupter and will be the death-knell of the democratic party! Too liberal for mainstream america! Too republican for the democratic party! Dean, dean dean dean dean!

[clar]

5. That's just plain

silly. As we all know, and oft lament, money is lubricant of modern political campaigns. Can't reach the voters without it.

[Duder]

6. Howard Dean...

...is credited as being largely responsible as the one that has damaged Bush's image the most. If that disrupts the Democratic party then I, as well as the almost half a million that have signed up with Dean, am all for that kind of disruption. Love him or hate him, Dean has energized the party and revolutionized campaigning.

We won't beat Bush with looks, ornate speeches or by being bushlite. Giving any credit to republicans for the success or failure of any of our Democratic campaigns reflects badly on some supporters whose candidates have demonstrated that they are not ready for prime-time.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. "Dean is credited as being the one who damaged Bush's image the most"

love to see a link on that, cuz that's one hell of an inflated claim to make.
And the more links you find the less inclined I'll be to believe that's just another delusional claim by a candidate's emotionally charged yet intellectually fogged backers.

[Duder]

10. Actually there are links...

I believe it was in a Capitol publication yesterday for one, but since you'll be less inclined to believe and I have to leave for awhile anyway there's no sense in wasting time with posting links because I'm sure those aloof pseudo intellectual supporters will remain stagnanted in their pomposity for their annoited one.

Have a good hair day. :)

[blm]

14. Like this from Joe Conason?

Followed by Dean in July, 2002 on MTP.

Kerry Shows Courage In Challenging Bush
Thursday, August 8, 2002 By: Joe Conason
New York Observer
>>>>>
But it was John Kerry who delivered the most interesting, substantive and challenging message. His subject was George W. Bush's shortcomings as a world leader.
The New York Times reported that Mr. Kerry "offered a long attack on Mr. Bush's foreign policy," although the paper gave short shrift to the details in the Senator''s speech. What he began to articulate was a Democratic critique of this administration''s blunt and myopic unilateralism, and a vision that restores international alliances to the center of American diplomacy.
He agrees with the objective of removing Saddam Hussein, but objected to the vague plans for what will replace the Iraqi dictatorship. He called the latest arms treaty with Russia a "cosmetic" one that inadequately safeguards decommissioned weapons. He denounced the "Cold War" approach to North Korea that has undone the progress achieved by the Clinton administration. He expressed scorn for the administration''s disengagement from the Middle East crisis before Sept. 11.
>>>>>>
He is, however, no naïïve internationalist who abhors military force. As he has done before, Mr. Kerry wondered aloud why the President didn't muster sufficient firepower in Afghanistan to destroy Al Qaeda''s army when the chance arose at Tora Bora.
>>>>>
Mr. Kerry is staking out a politically perilous position at a time when conventional wisdom declares foreign and military issues to be the exclusive province of the President. As a Senator from Massachusetts--whose last Presidential nominee suffered humiliating defeat by a candidate named Bush--he risks highlighting negative assumptions about his own viability on a national ticket.
 
According to the scientific measurements made by political consultants, Mr. Kerry''s chosen path is marked "dead end." The safer domestic route is crowded with competitors who talk only about corporate responsibility, prescription drugs and Social Security. The boldest among them now criticize the lopsided tax cut that shouldn't have passed last year.
>>>>>



MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe the military operation in Afghanistan has been successful?
       
       GOV. DEAN: Yes, I do, and I support the president in that military operation.
       
       MR. RUSSERT: The battle of Tora Bora was successful?
       
       GOV. DEAN: I’ve seen others criticize the president. I think it’s very easy to second-guess the
       commander-in-chief at a time of war. I don’t choose to engage in doing that. 
 Alert

[KittyWampus]

9. Dean Credited As Damaging Bush's Image- LOL

Maybe by a few of his groupies on DU.

And Joe Trippi, the one who manufactured the "grassroots" campaign is the one who revolutionized campaigning... FOLLOWING the lead of McCain.

Hey, it's a political move that worked, at least up til now, for Dean. Congratulations.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. a few of his groupies on DU?

more like a teeming mass.

[clar]

12. How about a little

less name calling from the Kerry contingent.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. "Deanies" "Groupies" "Kool-Aid Drinkers" "Deanieboppers"

Demeaning others and insulting them is the last refuge of the intellectually challenged.

[polpilot]

17. Dean instructs..Kerry self-destructs. Of course Kerry would be leading

w/o Dean and since Dean has disrupted the 'Demo Senators' Club, The Pro-Iraqi Sheperd Bombing Club, The DLC, The DNC, CNN, Karl Rove, and the rest of The Politicaly Annointed he is...uhh..uhhh out of favor??

Gephardt is pissed, as is evident in every debate, Kerry's just completely lost, Lieberman seems, at least in the last debate, to accept his loss, and appears mostly jovial about The Usurper.

And on we go!!!! Remember Jan.-Feb '03 Howard the One Percenter...well there are those, me included, that have been surprised at his political abilities. He takes a hit and keeps on comin'..accelerate..accelerate..accelerate!!!

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party.

P.S. So who's the vp??? Graham? Best bet so far I'd say. Punchy Howard out front and Graham for the ballast. Heave ho and on we go!!!

[dsc]

16. It must be sad to support

a candidate who is so bad you have to resort to calling people names.

[blm]

19. Calling good Dems internet names like "Bushlite" is the only accepted

behavior here at DU? Not only accepted but REWARDED behavior.

[caledesi]

22. Dean lead the way for the Dems to take off their "pink tutus." nt

[dsc]

15. sure

BTW lots of people who aren't independtly wealthy (like you evidently are) can't afford to just take some months to work 24/7 for a campaign. We have to do things like pay bills etc. Must be nice to be able to be clueless on that.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. I pity you.

I really and truly feel sory for you.

It is no doubt easier for you to believe that I'm some sort of an official on-the-staff (paid or unpaid) Kerry man here to pollute this board with an unwelcome Kerry presence, defending his views and promoting his vision. In fact I am quite certain that it is easier for you to believe that, than to consider the frightening possibility (for you) that I am in fact just an average Democrat, genuinely inspired by the example Kerry has made of his entire career, and simply taking my own time out of my own personal life to join the fight for what he believes in and to make sure he is our nominee against Bush.

I am quite sorry that you are clueless on that.

And since I am bearing my soul here I might as well lay this out there for anyone who may care to know specifically WHY I SUPPORT KERRY: Because he deserves it more than any of the other candidates- He has THE longest career in public service of any of the candidates, (it comprises in fact his ENTIRE career) and he has consistently been on the right side of the issues nearly all of the time.

And as proof that I am not alone here, and that there are others like me, I offer the following names: DrFunkenstein, Nicholas_J, Feanorcurufinwe, Octafish, blm, etc, etc, etc, .... So believe if you want that we're ALL paid Kerry staff, but I think the mere suggestion is truly pathetic. And for the record I joined DU 68 weeks ago, and I have 8500 posts. I am married, I have a 4 y.o. daughter, and I have DU "on" whenever I'm at the computer, whether at work or home. It'd be nice to be paid for the time I spend here, but I do it for no other reason than concern for this country's future and because I do not want us to miss the opportunity to elect the man who could very well be the greatest President in our lifetime.

[caledesi]

23. I like Kerry, but he voted for the war and that is why I cannot support hi

[polpilot]

18. Bush operatives. hmmmmmm... Are ALL your shades drawn??????

Dean '04...

[w4rma]

20. Now, that is what I'd call an unsubstantiated conspirisy theory

:tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat: