Did the Dean campaign fail? (rephrased CSpan question)

[mandyky]

Personally, I do not think Dean failed. But if you feel it did please give 5 main reasons.

My 5 are:

His comment about OBL and refusal to pronouce him guilty.
In Iowa, Dean was attacked and when he fought back, it strengthened the angry meme.
The I have a scream speech played 1000+ times reinforced the angry meme.
The media constantly portraying Dean as angry and liberal.
Trippi resigning after Iowa.

I think Dean was 10% responsible. The rest was media and opponent driven on memes not necessarily the truth.

[arewethereyet]

1. Dean did himself in

(in no particular order)
the Canadian interview regarding Iowa
the flip flp on taxes (and all the others)
the yelling speech picture
the Hussein quote
the negative responses to Gephardt/Lieberman attacks
the lousy debate performances

these are just a few and I don't include the scream, it was over long before the scream that was just the punctuation marking the moment that everyone knew it was over.

Dean did most of this to himself to the frustration of Trippi.

[mandyky]

2. The Canadian interview is a bogus reason

It was not a current interview and long before Dean began his run for the Presidency.

The hussein quote - you really think we are safer since Saddam's capture? We were on higher alert for almost a month after, Iraq is almost in a civil war, and OBL is still gunning for us. How are we safer?

[John_H]

3. Dean ran at the wrong time. It's as simple as that.

He ran during wartime against a 4 star general and a war hero. Once he fulfilled his (important) purpose of spuriing the Dems to stand up, the voters decided they wanted to nominate someone who could beat the chimp.

[NV1962]

4. I see just one reason: too many superficially interested people

The determination to kick Bush out is certainly there, but by far most people haven't come around to actually check out the electoral menu yet.

There's a thing "you" Deanies have in common with "us" Clarkies, we're both way ahead of the pack in enthusiasm and political fervor - which isn't necessarily a good thing, in the electoral early season. It's like getting all extatic and excited in a public library: if at all noticed, it's not much appreciated.

We're more effective for Congressional campaigns; supporting candidates there will be really a big, big help to get "our" candidates in, seat by seat.

[mandyky]

5. One thing I loved about Deans'

speech today is what he said about women/wives of candidates - not always looking adoringly at the candidate hubby, but following their own careers. Howard Dean is a feminist and a gay rights activist. Gotta love him!!

[bushwakker]

6. They never fleshed out his human side

President is a very personal vote for many people and they like to feel like they "know" the essence of a candidate. Dean never seemed comfortable letting people into his life and I think it hurt him with folks who wrren't the hardcore.