The idea that Dean supporters won't vote for the eventual nominee

[Rowdyboy]

should it not be Dean, is unfair and incorrect. While motivated by Dean's policies, the supporters almost universally say they strongly are motivated to remove Bush from the White House

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=31061

I realize that the Union /Leader is a notoriously rightwing paper, but this article actually isn't particularly negative.

[maxr4clark]

1. I agree

but I have seen some Dean supporters on the DU sporting a "nobody but Dean" slogan.

[SheilaT]

7. No more than supporters of other candidates

have said nobody but their guy. Or worse yet, Anybody but Dean. All of this pettiness shouldn't be happening, not here on DU.

[fabius]

2. I'll back that up.

I'm a strong Dean supporter but when it comes down to it I'll support the Democratic nominee. This includes ANY of the nine still running.

Although a bonafide lefty I'll even vote for Lieberman if he's nominated. Sorry, Ralph. (PS I didn't vote for Ralph in 2000 either).

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

11. What does the demographics of the Dean supporter look like?

I keep hearing that the Dean camp is largely young, first time voters who are particularly passionate about the Florida debacle. I've also seen a lot of talk about their unwillingness to move their support away from Dean.

I've been around the party for 30 years and I'll let you in on a little secret, that's bullshit. We have alway been a coalition of various groups and ideologies. Never have I seen the passion to oust a Republican like I'm seeing this time around. When the smoke clears and the wounds get cleaned, that which has always united us will be even more so this year.

Dean has made an incredible contribution to our party, the excitement of a whole new generation of young Democrats hungry for participation.
He had the vision to do things differently and appeal to those who will be taking over the reins of the party in the near future.

I've been through many campaigns and have numerous scars from seeing good people have their hats handed to them by a media influenced electorate.

Dean may ultimately lose to the influences of the party establishment and media whores, but if we do take back the White House, it will be because of what Dean has done to bring in new voters...even if those new voters find themselves in someone else's campaign.

Dean isn't my no.1 guy, but he sure as hell deserves the support of any loyal Democrat who's candidate doesn't get the nomination.

[Epoch]

3. here's one..sorta

Although I'm moving to Clark's side, I still haven't given up completely on Dean, I am going to do whatever it takes to support our nominee...

[maxr4clark]

4. I would hope that Dean would urge his supporters to vote for the nom

Doesn't it sound a little like blackmail to say "my supporters will vote for me, or nobody"? I didn't realize that was the message Dean put out!

[FubarFly]

5. Yes Rowdyboy, and the idea that you pushed your mother

down a flight of stairs is absolutely untrue.

I don't have a link on me, but I heard it from a reliable source.

:evilgrin:

--

Of course most Dean supporters are ABB. We're not stupid- although we do have our limits. :shrug:

[Tweed]

6. Sounds very undemocratic

I didn't realize the people that supported Dean wanted to keep Bush in the White House even if Dean isn't running against him. It is great that Dean has talked to all of his supporters and knows excatly what each one is thinking though.

[Emillereid]

8. Absolutely -- the only caveat I have is

how hard I'll work for the eventual nominee. If Lieberman should get the nod, I'd not only have to hold my nose to vote for him, but I doubt if I'd give him any time or money. I put in hundreds and hundreds of hours in the Clinton election campaigns -- I was a precinct captain and brought in 97% of my identified Clinton voters in my heavily democratic precinct (wish I lived there now!). And when I wasn't walking the precinct for Clinton, I was in the district office manning the phones, running off flyers, etc., etc. The more I like the candidate the more work he'll get from me -- but Lieberman for instance, I just couldn't work for. My heart wouldn't be in it. So although I might want Dean right now, it doesn't mean I'll be a spoil sport and take my ball and go home if my guy doesn't get the nomination. I think we all have to focus like a laser beam on getting Bushenfuhrer out of the White House -- and, if there is a God, he'll end up in the dock at the Hague.

[SummerGrace]

9. At the Des Moines Register debate

Dean said he would support the nominee and encourage his supporters to do so too. I have been to several events for different candidates and many people think the most important goal is that Bush be sent back to Crawford this fall.

[slinkerwink]

10. I'm ABLB!

Anybody but Lieberman or Bush!

[hellhathnofury]

12. In a world of bad choices. L>B. Rationalize it.

Just think of the difference in SCOTUS appointments.

[pasadenaboy]

13. They'll vote for whomever the nominee is

however, I doubt they'll get much money or volunteer work.

If the DNC wants to run the election the old way, I don't think the Dean people will stand in their way. They'll let them beg for corporate money. Would the DNC be comfortable doing things any other way?

[IndianaGreen]

14. Non-Democratic supporters of Dean, or anyone else's for that matter

Non-Democratic supporters of Dean, or anyone else's for that matter, are not bound by any misguided "party loyalty" to switch to any other Democratic candidate.

You will find that non-Democratic fiscal conservatives, attracted to Dean because they think he will deal with the deficit, will not automatically switch to another Democratic candidate. ABB would be an insult to their intelligence!

Non-Democratic anti-globalists and/or antiwar voters, who are more likely supporting Dennis Kucinich or Al Sharpton, may sit out the election or vote third party rather than support a pro-NAFTA, prowar bourgeois candidate. They will be contemptuous of ABB!

There are Leftists that will vote ABB no matter what--ironically, they are all anti-capitalists and they view the Democratic Party with suspicion.

Moderate Independents are up for grabs! Some of those independents may end up voting for Bush simply because they feel "safer" with him. I would not be surprised if a survey were to show that Bush-leaning independents relied heavily on the mainstream media to form their opinions. The other independents are ripe for the picking, provided that we don't spook them with bad behavior during the convention.

No matter who the Democratic nominee turns out to be, and chances are that he will be either Dean or Clark, the election is going to be extremely close. Every vote has to be counted for our nominee to win the election.

The "electability" issue has nothing to do with the Democratic nominee. Electability will be determined by the extent to which the GOP goes to prevent voters from casting their votes (a red alert in key states would do nicely for them).