Money Crunch Threatens Some Democrats

[Freddie Stubbs]

By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The crowded Democratic field has candidates competing for dollars as they vie for primary votes. With cash tight, most need to win soon to stay in the race.

Only Howard Dean (news - web sites) with his devoted base of Internet donors seems to have the resources it would take to ride out several early losses, like his third-place finish to John Kerry (news - web sites) and John Edwards (news - web sites) in the Iowa caucuses. But fund-raising experts caution even that money could dry up fast if Dean doesn't start winning. Next up is the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.

"The same phenomena that brings it in dries it up," said Rick Davis, who ran Republican Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign, which raised more than $4 million online in the month after McCain won the New Hampshire primary and before he withdrew from the race.

"I think what Dean is probably witnessing right now is the shift. What fueled his campaign, especially a lot of his contributions, was the party was pretty united against the war in Iraq (news - web sites)," Davis said. "Now they want to beat Bush."

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=5&u=/ap/20040123/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_money_4

[Fleshdancer]

1. Well the Dean well won't dry up because of me

I plan on making constant donations until he either wins the WH, or drops out of the race. Dean supporters have been through too much to give up now.

[xxqqqzme]

2. U got that right

I have been talking about Howard Dean and supporting his candidacy for 14 months. I am not about to cave in 2 pundits & talking heads when he was one of very damn few Democrats speaking AGAINST squatter. Dean helped me re-embrace the Democratic Party cuz quite frankly, I was without a party after Dec. 12, 2000!

[krkaufman]

3. Never give up! Never Surrender!

Heed these courageous words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggert, "Never give up! Never surrender!"

Whatever happens to our candidates-of-choice, we all still need to band together to get Bush out of office.

p.s. Agreed Re: Dean's being nearly alone in standing up to the Bush Administration. His stand has helped shape all the campaigns.

[MoonAndSun]

4. Or as Bruce Springsteen sang..."no retreat, no surrender"

I am behind Dean until he is in the WH, or he tells me he is out. Not when pundits or bashers say he is done for.