Dean seems to be looking for friends

[BootinUp]

In the debate today, he seemed to take pains to avoid attacking other candidates, he offered an apology to Edwards, and he made a Democratic Unity statement. I think Dean is feeling some heat and trying to reach out now. I think this is his challenge now, and we will see more of this going forward. It says to me that the attacks, articles, and all is hurting him and he knows it.

Is it too late for Dean to change his image and get more moderate votes in the February, March primaries?

[maddezmom]

1. no it's not too late

I liked his softer approach today.

[beachdreamin]

23. DEAN is his own worst enemy

Dean, is now looking for unity but is whining about other candidates picking on him. The bottom line is Dean is not electable and will have more Democrats sitting home Nov 04 then he brings new people into the party.

General Clark is the only Democrat who can beat Bush and be a unifying leader in the Democratic Party. Clark can win in the South, Dean can't and in order to win the election, at least 2 southern states are needed.

I'm a moderate Democrat and the bottom line is defeating the Radical Right Wing Extremist presently in the WH. Dean will do more damage to the Democratic Party then any good he does.

[poopyjr]

35. Dean is his own worst enemy because of his ridiculous tax policy

It will do him in this Nov.

[mouse7]

2. Dean will be gotting most of the votes already

No candidate gets ALL the votes unless they are running unopposed.

[Brian_Expat]

3. Dean has plenty of moderate supporters already

Like me. :)

[CMT]

4. what he is trying to do is what the front runner always

does and that is to unite the party. He has been doing this for some time now actually. As far as him being hurt, it certainly doesn't seem to be the case. He is still leading in most polls in Iowa and NH by more than 2-1 over Clark and Kerry. He is also leading in recent polls in SC, Arizona, and even in one poll in Oklahoma. He also broke another fund raising record. But yes, his aim is to unite the party and once the candidate is clear the party will fall into line. The attacks in this campaign aren't all that differnt from past campaigns. Reagan/Bush in '80 and Bush/McCain and even Carter/Kennedy were far more divisive in my opinion. The Dems will eventually kiss and make up

[BootinUp]

36. I probably over did it a little but

It does seem Dean has topped out right now. Probably due in part to the number of candidates. My point is I see this as a turning point where he can pick up votes from candidates that start to drop out. But I think he does need to project a little different image going forward. You can call it unity but its probably a little early to characterize it that way. That will be when/if he wins a decisive number of primaries/delegates.

[Padraig18]

5. Dean is doing the sensible thing.

He's not doing this in response to any 'heat; he thinks (with good reason) that he may well becopme the nominee, and he is trying to extend an olive branch to the other candidates and their supporters, i.e., 'pour oil on troubled waters'.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. He's acting like a winner

who is reaching out to build consensus for the general election.

[patricia92243]

7. Yep!

[jpgpenn]

11. is that winner or "WHINER"

I say the later.

[Padraig18]

17. Drive-by flame.

Thanks for contributing. :hi:

[jpgpenn]

24. flame or FACT?

as in crying about Terry Mc Cauliff not protecting him! I say WHINE.:nopity:

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Padraig18]

38. Who DO you support?

It was a drive-by flame.

[TeacherCreature]

42. flame

which is different than a fact. :hi:

[BuelahWitch]

27. Nope, the only "whiners" were Kerry and Lieberman n/t

[RUexperienced]

8. It is Dean's stratergy

There is no reason for Dean to attack now that he is the frontrunner. He needs to start looking presidential.

[chimpymustgo]

32. The crybaby act he pulled over the holidays was ugly.

A real character exposing moment.

[stickdog]

9. What it says to me is that Dean's one smart campaigner.

But y'all knew that already.

[jpgpenn]

10. Dean is truly a laughing stock.

First he was the one who started to rip on other Dems. Then when they turned the tables he starts crying like a snot nosed brat. Now he wants to be friends, lol, sorry he can't have it both ways.

It really is pathetic.

[Padraig18]

19. Who do YOU support, btw?

hmmmm?

[jpgpenn]

25. pay closer attention

What does that have to do with my opinions in this thread?

[Padraig18]

40. Inquiring minds want to know.

:)

[tedoll78]

44. If he's a laughing stock..

what does that say about the other candidates' inability to catch him?

I love it when other candidates' supporters offer blanket judgement of Dean, calling him "pathetic," "unexperienced on the campaign trail," "unelectable," etc. If he is one or some or all of these things, it's quite an insult to the poor creatures competing with (and apparently losing) to him.

[TeacherCreature]

12. Clark seems to be looking for cover

and a party.

[deminflorida]

13. No by avoiding a debate televised by FOX...

that's not cover, that's called respectable.

[maddezmom]

21. thought it was on CNN and CSPAN?

since I don't get FAUX or CNN, I watched it on CSPAN on the net.

[HFishbine]

28. CSpan and CNN too. (n/t)

[democratreformed]

37. BT

:)

[unfrigginreal]

14. LOL

Clark's going to be looking for Press over the next 2 weeks. Good Luck with that! I can hardly wait for all of the "media conspiracy against Clark" threads. :hi:

[deminflorida]

15. He'll get plenty of Media coverage once ole Howard travels to

the South, on Feb. 3....

Plenty of it, indeed.

[deminflorida]

16. By the way, press doesn't win elections, voters do...

something Dean supporters will soon have to face.

[Padraig18]

20. We'll face it.

And I seriously doubt the results will please Clark supporters.

[deminflorida]

22. Can't wait for the polls tomorrow...

Go to the South Carolina Democratic Party Website...

you'll get a few hints there, that lead Dean was holding has fallen to a dead tie with Clark...

[Padraig18]

41. We'll see.

Do you have a link, btw?

[jpgpenn]

18. "looking for press" ?

You mean like tomorrow when he will unvail his comprehensive tax plan?

Then his appearence on Hardball? Or even the news that his campaign has raised about 11 million dollars this quarter with approx. 3.75 matching funds added to that? Nah i'de say he will have plenty of coverage about real issues. Then again with the slanted major media coverage of Dean, i'm not expecting him to get as much.

[TeacherCreature]

29. the could make another movie

When "Profiles in War"...er, "How I Lobbied for the War industry for Fun and Profit"....er"A Place Called Hope"....er "American Son" gets old. They can make a movie starring Clark called "Desperately Seeking Attention".

[democratreformed]

39. BTVH

:) :)

[KittyWampus]

26. Aren't We All?

Looking for friends, that is :)

[HFishbine]

30. Ahhh, bug off!

;)

[BootinUp]

33. Sure

but I thought this was a real turning point for Dean.

Cheers

[in_cog_ni_to]

34. It was so obvious what

he was doing. He was trying to repair all of the damage he has caused during this campaign. Too little, too late. I had a good laugh at his attempt to "smooth" things over. He's lied about Kucinich, he's attacked Kerry by saying he waffled on the IWR and attacked Clark by saying this ----------> Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean yesterday blasted new 2004 candidate Wesley Clark as "a Republican until 25 days ago" who has become the "desperation" candidate for establishment Democrats. "What you see in the Wes Clark candidacy is somewhat of a desperation by inside-the-Beltway politicians," Dean told the CBS program "Face the Nation."

"You've got a lot of establishment politicians now surrounding a general who was a Republican until 25 days ago, voted for Ronald Reagan, voted for Dick Nixon, supported the war last October."

NOW he wants to make it all better. Now he wants to take the high road? :eyes:

[arewethereyet]

43. he can't stand the heat, can't find the door to the kitchen

he needs friends but has alienated everyone. He made a campaign out of being apart. He got his wish.