Talks with a former Kerry supporter who has worked with Dean

[usrbs]

Short history - 6 years ago I volunteered to do grunt work for Kerry’s reelection when he was facing a serious challenge from Bill Weld. A few months ago I went to a Kerry meet-up because I thought he was the best candidate. But soon I realized that the most electable person on paper isn’t necessarily the best one in real life. His campaign was dreadful, his appearances uninspiring, his votes always on the safe side and he was getting relentless attacks from the media. I had second thoughts.
Next I started looking at Clark, whom I still think is our best chance to defeat Bush. However, during the debates I found myself paying much more attention to Dean. Dean has the “it” factor - there’s no question about it. And every time I’ve seen him speak, he’s coherent and straightforward and makes good points.

So today I went up to NH to campaign for Dean. Frankly, if the Clark campaign had called back, I would have gone up for Clark. I drove up with the volunteer coordinator I had worked for from 6 years ago, and spoke with her on why she prefers Dean. This is what she had to say - Kerry as a person does actually have many of the traits listed in the Boston Globe. He’s cold, unappreciative, a boring speaker, and a non-interested conversationalist. This in stark contrast to Dean, whom she had worked with on environment issues, and had been so impressed she has spent much of this year working for him.

Take this as you will, but although I remain torn between Clark and Dean, I’m totally convinced that Kerry isn’t the best Democrat to beat Bush.

A bone for Kerry supporters - from what I saw today canvassing in NH - Kerry is doing great up there.

[lancdem]

1. I think Kerry's doing a lot better

It's obvious he was NOT connecting with voters a few months ago. I was very impressed with him at a town meeting on C-SPAN on Friday. BTW, Josh Marshall has a column in The Hill where wonders whether Kerry will stay energized or revert to his pre-Iowa plodding form.

[adadem]

2. Kerry is also doing

fantastic in Michigan. Was phone banking yesterday and today and at 75% of the respondents (about 150) are planning to support Kerry. I was shocked at the enthusiasm. The campaign here is very well organized.

[usrbs]

4. If he gets nominated I certainly hope so.

Of course I'll work for him if he wins the nomination, but Clark and Dean are IMHO much more exciting.

[JNelson6563]

9. Oh I beg to differ

We now have a Kerry staffer here in the north. She called on her way up (just this past Sat. night), no supporters, no office, no nothing. She called our party chair asking for a place to stay for free for a couple of weeks.

The campaign did nothing for her. I mean nothing. She showed up late to the only large Dem event in this region before our caucus, no materials, had little idea what to do and gave a very pretentious speech on Kerry's behalf.

While we all admire this young girl for her bravery (even though we're not Kerry supporters for the most part) we are all disgusted that they would just throw her out into this frozen tundra friendless and clueless. There were no Kerry supporters for her to call here, none. The Kerry campaign has been virtually invisible.

The other day when they called the Dem office they were apparently deciding whether or not to send this girl up here. Their first question: "Is Dean sending staff?" (Answer: yes)

I have seen no evidence of organization whatsoever. With less than two weeks to go this girl is supposedly going to find and open an office and deliver the north to Kerry.

I'd count that as rather pathetic, not "fantastic".

Julie

[krkaufman]

10. An effect of recent cash crunch?

Posted by JNelson6563: There were no Kerry supporters for her to call here, none. The Kerry campaign has been virtually invisible.

Hmmm... I wonder if this is due to the recently reported pre-Iowa cash-crunch, the war chest shortage that required Kerry to take out a mortgage on his townhouse?

Also, if so, I wonder how it translates to other states on the primary horizon (i.e. Feb 3rd and beyond).

[JNelson6563]

11. Oh I am sure that's part of it

It's expensive to run a 50-state camapign. The Dean camapign has done it pretty well state-wide but it's been done by volunteers. We've had a presence here since last summer. Had folks driving 80+ miles for meet-ups. We finally split off into 6 splinter groups, each in a different county.

Our staffers had many places to stay and came with lots of campaign materials and were well prepared. And nobody called first to see if other campaigns were sending staff. ;-) The only ones consulted were Dean supporters, our party got no call cause no help was needed there.

My heart really went out to this girl from the Kerry campaign and they way they flung her out here has been noticed and reflected quite poorly on the campaign. The sentiment seems to be if this is how coordinated their primary campaign is what could we expect from a Kerry GE campaign? This episode has been an interesting study in contrasts between the Dean and Kerry campaigns.

Julie

[KC21304]

3. Maybe I am not getting your message straight ,

and forgive me if that is true, but this is what I got from your post.You worked for Kerry 6 years ago and after 6 years you thought he would be the best candidate. You went to a meet up 6 months ago, when he was still recovering from cancer surgery and didn't think he was up to par. Then the press and others started getting on his case for being lackluster and you decided to try someone else.

How about giving him another chance now that he obviously feels better and is doing better ? He may now be the best on paper and in actuality ?

[usrbs]

5. I did listen to him, I watched the debates - he got his chance.

I certainly don't stand alone in this. I think there was an article in Salon about his long speeches.

[mbee]

6. Kerry just doesn't have it in my opinion and I don't get

why people want him?

[KC21304]

7. With me it is his message, his integrity, his record of fighting for the

underdog among other things. And I also think he is good looking, but that doesn't have much to do with my support of him. Of course if I wanted to go with the best looking candidate I would go with Edwards.

[creativelcro]

8. The records is that of an opportunistic flip-flopper in my opinion.

[molly]

12. He will beat Bush

he has a supberb record - he is the best man for the job.

What more could anyone want?

[JNelson6563]

13. He won't even win the primaries

from what we've seen of his campaign in Michigan. Sorry.

Julie