Dean went from frontrunner to running scared in the final week before Iowa

[wyldwolf]

The bus swayed as it ate up Highway 14 near here Friday afternoon, and Howard Dean rocked with it, bracing himself on a front-row seat.


It was a snapshot of Dean's candidacy in the final days before Iowa's caucuses on Monday: A man struggling to hang on.


He entered Iowa this week as the perceived frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president. By the end of the week he found himself in a four-way battle for an Iowa victory that would confer crucial momentum heading into the primaries to come - or, if he lost, perhaps drive his campaign into a tailspin. Weeks of attacks from rivals and Dean's muddled response to them had taken a toll, according to polls, interviews and the candidates themselves.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7735833.htm

[liberalnurse]

1. Well, I'm here in Des Moines right this very moment...

I just did grassroots canvasing for Dean....I've gotten a tremendous positive support and feedback from Iowians! I went door-to-door. So the polls can only be worth the paper they are printed on....


Your way off base from my "on hands" experience.

[wtmusic]

4. Good to hear LN

and thanks for all your hard work. :-)

I couldn't be there myself but I'll be phone banking tomorrow.

[wyldwolf]

8. Two points

1. You went door to door so the Iowa poll can't possibly be right?
2. I'm not off base. Take your issue up with the author of the article.

[wtmusic]

2. Wouldn't say 'scared'

Maybe mobilized--'2,000 volunteers for Dean were crisscrossing the state in 117 vans, knocking on 200,000 doors.'

It's certainly made the race more interesting.

[bigwillq]

3. I think Dean will still be

first or second in Iowa. Yes, it seems as if his campaign is in trouble but I think the media is making more of a big deal than it is. Dean still has his supporters and they'll be out in force come Monday. A good showing in IW then its off to NH and another top two finish.

[sandnsea]

11. I agree, alot of hype

I'm sure he's doing fine. His supporters are too committed to just disappear. It's anybody's race.

[liberalnurse]

5. I know for a fact.....In the state of Iowa there were

3,500 volunteers canvasing for Dean. 700 in Des Moines alone. It was terrific! I can't wait until tomorrow and Monday.


This is good practice for March 2, 2004 in Ohio. I'm buiding my portfolio as I type.:)

[candy331]

6. Liberal nurse thanks for the eyewitness accounts

For me it is Dean all the way. Thanks to all you hard workers there in Iowa.

[MercutioATC]

7. Ahhh, but Monday will tell...

Talk to me Monday night and I think we'll see that Dean's not "running scared".

[Darth_Ole]

10. Exactly, Mercutio.

Let's see who's campaign is in trouble on Tuesday morning.

Dean's still the front-runner. Kerry and Edwards are surging. Gephardt has the loyal union support. None of these four are in trouble until Tuesday!

[LuminousX]

9. Fitzgerald uses too much poetic license

It would be a blindfaith supporter who can't see Dean has taken some hits this week that has brought into question his ability to pull off the trifecta we were expecting (IA, NH, SC) but to say he is running scared implies he has his tail tucked between his legs and is conceding IA. That isn't the case at all.

Perhaps a better phrase would be cornered like a badger.

[ModerateMiddle]

12. Ya, I don't think he's "running scared" either

I do think he isn't sure what to do to reclaim his status though.

Throughout this week while the polls were favoring Kerry so much, I loved seeing him saying that he STILL doesn't put much stock in the polls, and he's just doing what he has been doing -- meeting as many Iowans as he can, and answering all of their questions.

I think one thing that has shined through from Kerry is his steadfastness in the face of turmoil.