If Dr. Dean wins in NH, will he become 'The Comeback Kid'?

[Cuban_Liberal]

As Mark Twain wrote, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated", and I believe the same to be true about Dr. Dean's candidacy. Although his campaign took one on the chin last night, he remained in first place in the NH polls, by last count, and he is clearly not 'down' about his showing. He enters the race today with a bank full of money and hordes of enthusiastic volunteers.

I believe it is far too soon to count Dr. Dean out for other reasons, as well: his heretofore next-closest opponent, Gen. Clark, is now facing two energized candidates from Iowa--- Sens. Kerry and Edwards--- who I believe will begin to significantly undercut Clark's largely-unchallenged position as the 'alternative to Dean'.

I see a win by Dr. Dean in NH as at least a 50/50 possibility for the above reasons and ask, then, the following: if he wins NH, can he claim the titile "The Comeback Kid"?

Your civil thoughts are encouraged.

:)

Edit: puncuation

[cthrumatrix]

1. i guess that would be the case since he is behind according

to the press

Dean and his team will do just fine in NH

[OneBlueSky]

2. actually, I think this race will come down to Kerry vs. Clark . . .

for the simple reason that, in 2004, the American people will not elect a president with no foreign policy or military experience . . . Democrats understand this, and will therefore not nominate someone without the requisite experience . . . Kerry and Clark are the two candidates who can take Bush on in these areas, and one of them will be the eventual nominee, imo . . .

[John_H]

3. No, he'll be delaying his political demise the following two weeks.

[Cuban_Liberal]

4. Why do you say that?

I'm interested in hearing a bit more detailed explanation of your comment.

[cthrumatrix]

5. people can't seem to look at Iowa and "move on"...it's 50 states

let's see what the NH voters have to say...

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. Agreed.

I owa was pleasant for my guy, but I don't think we should make it into some sort of national referendum. We'd be fools to read too much into it.

[incapsulated]

7. More like the "Survivor"

He pretty much has to win to live. I don't think anyone who knows what they are talking about is putting nails in his coffin, but if he loses NH, well, it's not looking good.

[Democrats unite]

8. He will take 3rd possibly fourth in NH.

Then he has two down & 48 more to go.

[incapsulated]

9. I'm not making predictions

I honestly don't know what will happen, other than Kerry just became a player. Big time.

[cthrumatrix]

11. Kerry must win...or else his "mo" is over.

same goofy talk we see on Dean

[Cuban_Liberal]

10. You'd be surprised how many 'nails' types are spouting nonsense.

The first few pages are filled with threads about how Dean should drop out now, etc. . Really silly analyses, frankly.

[cthrumatrix]

12. the paid "shills" think they make a difference.... message to the

shills....it's 50 states.

[Democrats unite]

13. I never said he should drop out...

I just said he is not going to fare well in NH.

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. Could you define 'not going to fare well'?

That's pretty ambiguous.

[Democrats unite]

19. Per the dictionary

3rd or 4th place does not fare well.

Taken from Websters on line dictionary

Main Entry: 1fare
Pronunciation: 'far, 'fer
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): fared; far·ing
Etymology: Middle English faren, from Old English faran; akin to Old High German faran to go, Latin portare to carry, Greek peran to pass through, poros passage, journey
Date: before 12th century


Main Entry: 1well
Pronunciation: 'wel
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English welle, from Old English welle; akin to Old English weallan to bubble, boil, Old High German wella wave, Lithuanian vilnis
Date: before 12th century
1 a : an issue of water from the earth : a pool fed by a spring b : SOURCE, ORIGIN
2 a : a pit or hole sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water b : a shaft or hole sunk to obtain oil, brine, or gas
3 a : an enclosure in the middle of a ship's hold to protect from damage and facilitate the inspection of the pumps b : a compartment in the hold of a fishing boat in which fish are kept alive
4 : an open space extending vertically through floors of a structure
5 : a space having a construction or shape suggesting a well for water
6 a : something resembling a well in being damp, cool, deep, or dark b : a deep vertical hole c : a source from which something may be drawn as needed
7 : a pronounced minimum of a variable in physics <a potential well>

snip

Understand?

[Cuban_Liberal]

20. No.

'Not going to fare well' could mean anything, without some context. Will he win a narrow victory, instead of one by a comfortable margin? Second place in a squeaker? 3rd? 4th? Will he be blown out?

Understand?

[incapsulated]

15. I just think

NH is very important for Dean. If Kerry wins, he's got the big mo'. The media will be all over Dean as the big loser, all hype, yada yada. There are too many undecideds in a crowded field to take anything for granted.

I'm hoping for a second place finish for Clark in NH, because he is all about the south/west and Super Tuesday. But Dean was supposed to be the front runner, the MAN. He can't lose both Iowa and NH and not be really damaged. He's just another candidate then. He doesn't have the star power anymore.

[CMT]

14. I think so

after all Clinton became the "comeback kid" and he didn't even win NH. If Dean does he should and he will have more resources to go forward. Edwards problem is he is accepting federal funding and didn't raise too much in the fourth quarter. He could face running out of money down the line.

[LoneStarDem]

17. the problem

The problem with crafting a comeback message is that Dean has been widely trumpeted as the defacto-leader of the race for the last six months. He may be able to come back, but returning to level after getting punched in the gut does not give you that kind of spin with the media.

[incapsulated]

18. But Clinton

was having dirt thrown on his grave before NH, he was history. To come in second after the Flowers incident was a stunner. It's just the opposite for Dean, he is expected to win.

[Cuban_Liberal]

21. Kick

[paulk]

22. Dean lost badly in Iowa

despite the money, organization, and endorsements. He drove the final nail in his own coffin with the "concession" speech. I don't see Dean finishing any higher than fourth in New Hampshire.

Voters in NH, just like Iowa, are looking for someone they believe can win the general election. How can Dean overcome his crushing defeat in Iowa?

I don't see how.