Question: Why did Harkin endorse Dean now?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

Is it because Dean was taking so many hits this week and the blood letting needed to be stopped?
Did Harkin feel sorry for Dean?
Or is Harkin a politically motivated bandwagon jumper- (remember, Harkin voted Yes on IWR) who just wanted to "go with the flow"?

I certainly hope it is not because the Dean Defense squad electronically stormed his office, in a way not much different from what happended at the Miami Dade recount.

This is pretty bad for Kerry, however, I am looking forward to his statement in response.

[Renew Deal]

1. I read yesterday

that Harkin didn't want to be left out of the process.

[bearfartinthewoods]

71. everybody wants to be a kingmaker

and putting this out the same day dean is getting hit with the taped iowa caucas remark will garner major payback.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

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

[Printer70]

97. Oh please...best chance of beating Bush

"I like and respect each one of them but for me one candidate rose to the top as our best shot to beat George W. Bush and to give Americans the opportunity to take our country back," Harkin told supporters in Des Moines, Iowa. "That person is Gov. Howard Dean."

Harken wasn't fooled by the conservative spin like are many here. The Time CNN poll showed Dean back 6 pts of Bush, despite not being introduced to the nation. He's got the charisma to pull it off and that's people like Gore and Harkin are realizing.

[Tweed]

102. Despite or in spite?

Sorry Dean folks, but I think Dean trails Bush by six points in spite of the fact that he hasn't been introduced to the public. The mood of the country is towards cooperation and Dean is so harsh in his assesment of Republicans. Dean said in the last debate "Sometimes I do believe that the Republicans are out for their own good and not for the good of the country". Let's be honest though, sometimes Democrats do that too. Dean has said too many things to haunt him. That's why some Democrats love him so much, but the majority of the country will not. I'm sick and tired of losing. The gap will only widen between Bush and Dean, not get closer.

[CTLawGuy]

I like grapes too

though the kind I eat aren't so sour ;)

[Demobrat]

7. I like mine red.

And sweeeeeet! Just like this!

[Printer70]

100. I can't reach those grapes...

so they were probably sour anyway.

[mouse7]

111. Grapes suck. Cherries Rule!

Grapes suck! Grape supporters suck!

[Tatiana]

2. Cause Dean looks like the winner.

And Kerry looks like a loser in comparison. I think it's as simple as that. I don't think he favors Dean's record or experience over Kerry's (in fact, as Harkin worked more closely with Kerry in the Senate, he's probably more closer politically to Kerry than Dean).

[chimpymustgo]

10. So he foregoes his principles, his friendships?

I'm sickened by this. There is no loyalty, so sense of principle.

[diamondsoul]

I agree, unfortunately.

I seriously doubt I'll consider Harkin as a stand-up guy from here on out. It would appear that siding with the apparent "winner" means more to him than siding with the things he wants to see accomplished in this country. It was Harkin who hosted the Iowa Candidate forums and bragged about having introduced legislation in the Senate calling for a Dept. of Peace. Yes, Tom we can see how much your influence and principles mean now.

**replaced a word that was wrong.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

77. Just politics as usual.....

Looks like Dean is just a "regular politician."

[Tatiana]

26. Pretty much.

This whole primary process, I must admit from the standpoint of a spectator, has been extremely fascinating. One thing I've observed from this primary is that principles such as loyalty don't apply. If loyalty was a factor, Gore would have endorsed Lieberman, Harkin would have endorsed Kerry, and Bradley probably would have endorsed Kerry as well. Kerry built relationships with all of those people. However Gore, Harkin, and Bradley have endorsed Dean. Why?

Honestly, I think they want to end this primary process and wrap things up. They see Dean as having what it takes to beat Bush. There also may be positions for them in a Dean administration. Who knows?

(edited for clarity)

[dave29]

41. ok, I'll say it

but you won't like it.

Electability.

[Tatiana]

59. I think Dean's electable.

I just prefer Clark a bit more. I realize others don't feel the same way.

[diamondsoul]

61. Electability is a self-fufilling prophecy.

They're ALL ELECTABLE according to the exact same standards...IF PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU YOU'RE ELECTABLE.

[Larkspur]

56. Why should Gore have been loyal to Lieberman?

Lieberman stabbed Gore in the back at the DLC convention in July 2002 and Gore did NOT require Lieberman to make that stupid pledge, which Lieberman used to milk sympathy.

[JVS]

109. What pledge did Lieberman make?

[Larkspur]

114. Lieberman pledged that he would not run against Gore if Gore

decided to run for President in 2004. Lieberman never told that to Gore nor did Gore make that a requirement for Joe to be his VP in 2000. Lieberman claimed to have made that pledge during the Recount battle in 2000.

[Eloriel]

86. May the best man win? Or

the man (or woman) who has racked up the most loyal friends?

Speaking generally (that is, in a much broader context than political endorsements), loyalty is a wonderful quality, but it has it's place, and there are places where it must not be a deciding factor for one's actions and those are, in general, where other principles are at stake.

"Loyalty" is what keeps cops silent when bad cops among them break the law. "Loyalty" is what keeps some family members from naming and then going on to address family problems ("My dad abuses me," "My mother is an alcoholic," "My husband beats me," and so on). "Loyalty" is what keeps many people from seeing, let alone speaking out, that the emperor has no clothes (whoever the emperor may be). Loyalty is, in fact, one of the key factors that perpetrators everywhere rely on to keep their secrets and be enabled to continue doing what they're doing. (Other factors may include such things as intimidation and peer pressure.)

Obviously, a political endorsement like Harkin's is a wonderful thing and I'm very grateful for it. But had he endorsed Kerry, I would have at least recognized (a) his right to do so unfettered by someone else's (like mine) false and specious "rules" for how he should behave and (b) the likelihood that he genuinely thought Kerry was the best candidate for the highest office in the land and indeed the world.

Eloriel

[Tatiana]

104. Point well-taken.

I do think the "loyalty factor" has been overblown a little bit. I certainly don't have a problem whatsoever with Harkin endorsing Dean.

[wtmusic]

31. No, he follows his principles despite his friendships

The mark of a great leader

[diamondsoul]

55. Does he?

Seriously, I'm not unaccepting of that possibility, but it doesn't seem to fit with the hings Harkin has professed to support in the past, unless I'm just ill-informed about his stances on issues. That may well be since he's not my Senator.

My question is this- did he endorse because he believes in this guy or was it going along with the media's theme, i.e. poll results, money and media play, and politically expedient? I can't help but wonder based on what I've seen of his past reccomendations.

[Capn Sunshine]

It's politics my friend

That happens every day.
Everybody likes a winner, bottom line.

[eileen from OH]

38. wouldn't have you been more sickened

if he would have endorsed his friends, rather than the candidate he thought was best? I am sickened by the "old boy" network type of politicking.

Look, we don't know the workings of his mind and why he chose to do what he did. Yesterday he was a good guy, a great Dem, and a super liberal and had been for a loooong time. Why is it that, instead of the logical explanation - that he is sticking to his principles by endorsing Dean - it's immediately assumed that he's dumping his ethics for some nefarious reason that is completely the opposite of what he's always stood for.

eileen from OH

[kerry-is-my-prez]

78. Dean uses the "old boy" network type of politicking....

In fact, he uses Chicago-style politiking all the time....

[SEAburb]

3. Damage control

Overshadow caucus-gaffe. Time will tell if the strategy works.

[DemDogs]

107. Agreed - trying to stop the bleeding (n/t)

[quinnox]

4. Probably a mixture

The Dean comments on Iowa caucuses were serious enough to possibly cause a major shakeup in Iowa, so Harkin figured he will help Dean stop the damage with his endorsement. Also, Harkin wants to be in the process and show his influence.

[SEAburb]

67. just the other day on CNN's Inside the Dean Campaign

Harkin told Judy, he couldn't foresee himself endorsing any of the candidates, because they were all good choices. Clearly this endorsement is a sign the Dean campaign, in Iowa, is in trouble.

I wonder what comments on video of Dean NBC are holding back to use if Dean gets the nomination.

[SheilaT]

Harkin endorsing Dean is a sign

the Dean campaign is in trouble? Harkin would go out of his way to shore up a losing campaign rather than jump on the bandwagon with a winning won? What am I missing here?

[Larkspur]

74. Huh? Harkin endorsement = "Dean campaign, in Iowa, is in trouble"

If that were true, wouldn't it have made sense for Harkin to stay neutral or go with someone who he thinks is better than Dean?

[SEAburb]

80. Then why the two day about face by Harkin?

Goes on CNN to assure Iowans he is neutral and two days later he endorses Dean.

[Padraig18]

5. Harkin sees it as it really is.

Yes, the bloodshed needs to be stopped, but more than that, he senses a winner, a fighter, and a fundamentally GOOD man who could and should become President of the USA.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. He wanted to endorse at a time that would have the maximum impact

He's a pretty smart guy. ;)

[sandnsea]

8. Congratulations are in order

No need to fret. We got a good one today too.

[wtmusic]

9. Thanks sns

and on yours, too :thumbsup:

[Padraig18]

11. Yes, you did.

And thank you. :toast:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. Oh yeah...I forgot to do that.

good for Dean. Shame on the phone callers tying up his lines- especially the ones from outside Iowa.

[bowens43]

19. Don't like that grass roots stuff , huh?

[Cheswick2.0]

25. yeah, can't have actual people calling the senators

:eyes:

[diamondsoul]

42. Actual people who aren't

his constituents, NO! Jeez, even as politically naive as I may be, I have enough sense not to fuck over Iowa Residents to insist my candidate get Harkin's endorsement!

When Graham dropped out (and yeah I KNOW it ain't likely but you never know until you ask) I wrote an e-mail to his Congressional office to ask for his endorsement. Not because I don't care about campaigning but because I DO care about the people who NEED to contact their own Congressmembers about more urgent things than a damned endorsement!

[Cheswick2.0]

45. Eat grapes?

:hi:

[diamondsoul]

51. Grapes my rear end,

I'm talking about Dean supporters interfering with people's involvement in their Goverment!

Don't even imply it's about being mad about Harkin's endorsement, although yeah, part of me wants to demand he show me most of HIS constituents asked him to make that endorsement because you see THOSE are the people he represents in Congress and in public.

Ok, here's why my reaction is this strong, in all honesty- I needed to contact my House Rep yesterday about something very important. If I'd tried to call her and found her lines were busy because some idiot in California(or wherever, random example used) had been calling to beg for her endorsement, I'd have been absolutely off the wall pissed off. I can't imagine the people in Iowa who expect to be represented by Senator Harkin would feel any differently if they were the ones being shut out by Dean supporters calling about a damned endorsement.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

53. That you either don't understand or don't care about this issue

is pretty bad.

[LuminousX]

13. Kerry got a couple good ones today

I'm glad we can all appreciate when good things happen to one campaign or the other.

[Cheswick2.0]

47. yes he did

Good for Kerry

[JI7]

17. agree

.

[tedoll78]

14. It's all about timing..

There's one thing I've noticed about the Dean campaign - when things are going wrong, change the subject. Make it a goofy campaign event, or a high-profile endorsement.. just change the subject.

Again, this is evidence of a masterfully-run campaign!

[eileen from OH]

15. Gee, maybe it's because Harkin likes him & thinks he can win

and that he's the best candidate.

I mean, it IS a possibility, doncha think?

eileen from OH

[wtmusic]

21. What a novel idea...

:-)

[helleborient]

16. So do the Harkin and Miller endorsements mean Gep is finished? (n/t)

[Padraig18]

22. I think the Gephart campaign just suffered a carddiac arrest.

They're not dead, but I think they've just been moved into intensive care.

[CMT]

18. it is interesting to note that Harkin

also endorsed Clinton almost immediately after he withdrew from the presidential race in '92 and endorsed Gore as early as '99. I think he knows a winner. He was gracious and sponsored forums with each candidate in Iowa. I think he was overlooking them as well. I found that when I watched the Harkin/Dean forum that they had a very good rapport.

[Jerseycoa]

27. Harkin's a good guy

And this is a good endorsement. Any candidate would be pleased to have it, to state the obvious.

[LuminousX]

28. Wasn't it at the Harkin Steak Fry

that most of the other candidates left right away and Dean lingered behind to schmooze? Or am I misremembering that? I think Dean from the start knew key people he wanted endorsements from and have worked hard with those people to get it, just like he did with the unions.

[Hep]

20. LOL

After the posts we saw recently about Harkin and Kerry, I'm quite surprised that you even showed up today!

Harkin supports Dean for the same reason Gore and Bradley and so many others do. And it's the same reason so many DU'ers who oppose Dean fight their hardest to ignore. Because Dean represents a new D party. Dean has brought individuals back into power. Dean represents OUR effort and OUR energy.

And your guy DOESN'T.

And to compare Dean people calling and email Harkin's office to the overtly intimidating work of RW'ers in Florida is an insult to Dean, Harkin, AND me. And that's the other reason why your guy's campaign sucks so badly. Kerry's campaign has no respect for people. NONE. And it's showing more and more everyday.

It's up to YOU to be a hero or a disgrace to the campaign you represent. Choose wisely. Unless you have already chosen.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

33. Bullshit. We have always had the power.

But believe the hype Hep all you want.

[Hep]

35. If you're right

then one wonders exactly what keeps going wrong for your campaign. I'm sure it has nothing to do with your attitude towards me.

[Bread and Circus]

66. What fantasy land have I stepped into? Dean is just trying to get elected

Just like the rest.

For cryin' out loud.

[Hep]

68. Thanks for proving my point

about how badly some try to ignore the impact of Dean's campaign.

[Cheswick2.0]

23. because he LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVVVVS him

All the good guys love Dean. They know what we are up against and they know what kind of guy we need to take back the country. Yeah we called the office and so did everyone else, we won the endorsement. do you really think Kerry, Gephardt and everyone else didn't have people calling? And guess what, the campaign never asked us to do it. That's just how convinced we are that Dean is the person we need at the top of the ticket.
I think it is petty for you to make the comparison you just made.

[deminflorida]

24. Endorsements will do nothing with voters as far as blood letting

is concerned. If Dean wants to stop that, he'd better get control over his campaign and stop the dirty tactics. It maybe too late, people are starting to really sour on him, period.

The one thing good that he came off as being an outsider is gone... now he's just another dirty ass politician.

[Hep]

30. Thanks for the kick!

Dean on the brain, a new epidemic!

[helleborient]

29. So are questions like this helpful to encouraging others to participate?

Or just more of the poisonous atmosphere that drives too many Americans to stay home and aovid politics like the plague.

I'll be celebrating with Iowans tonight!!!

[TexasSissy]

32. To ensure Dean would win & win BIG, now that Gephardt is getting

close. And after the recent bad press about Dean's Iowa caucus being run by special interests statement of four years ago - that could've hurt Dean enough to damage the win, or even lose the win.

Too bad. I don't get it.

[CWebster]

34. Here it comes

the sour grapes after praising Harkin's virtues only moments ago...

[sfecap]

36. It's very simple, really...

Tom Harkin recognizes that Howard Dean has the support, the strength, the grassroots, the money, and the ability to defeat * in November. He understands that there is only one candidate who will take the fight to *, and that is Howard Dean. He also undestands that he has a responsibility to his constituents in Iowa. That's why he endorsed Howard Dean.

You insinuation(s) are offensive, BTW.

[OKNancy]

37. Good

Maybe this will get rid of the "Gephardt is the non-Dean"
and then it can get down to Clark vs Dean.....let the games begin!

[bitchkitty]

39. Harkin endorsed Dean

because he feels that Dean is the best candidate. Why are you confused?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

40. He "knew" who was the "best candidate" a while ago

that wasn't the question.

[Blaukraut]

44. just a thought

I could be wrong, but his timing seems to coincide with John Kerry's endorsements, and it's not too hard to guess whose endorsement will create bigger headlines.

[bitchkitty]

52. Have a grape, darling. n/t

[DancingBear]

60. There are some on this board

who can both win and lose with dignity.

Then, there are others....

[diamondsoul]

69. Well said. n/t

[Duder]

43. Not really a surprise

...

'The thinking is that if Mr. Harkin does make a public choice, it is likely to be Howard Dean, whose current take-no-prisoners brand of Democratic politics resembles Mr. Harkin's own populist style. Mr. Harkin acknowledges being "intrigued" by the former Vermont governor.

"It has been impressive what he has done," said Mr. Harkin, who invoked a late friend and fellow liberal in the Senate."Paul Wellstone and I always knew that if we continue to compete with the Republicans for the same shrinking pool of voters, we will lose. We have to expand that pool and Dean is doing that."

...

Though he said he came close to announcing a choice in the last few days, Mr. Harkin is being urged by some of his chief advisers to stay neutral in the contest, as is another prominent Democrat, Gov. Tom Vilsack. The governor has indicated he would not announce a preference to maintain an aura of openness around the caucuses and to help Iowa keep its first-in-the-nation status.

"There is something to be said for that," said Mr. Harkin, who is clearly finding it difficult to be on the sidelines. "But there is something to be said for the fact that we are political leaders, aren't we? There are a lot of undecided Democrats who are out there calling me and wondering what to do."'

To Endorse or Not to Endorse?

[Hoosier Democrat]

46. This is just reality, folks!!

As a Dean supporter, I am surprised (but not overly so) by Harkin's endorsement. I would have expected him to stay neutral, much like Governor Vilsack. Harkin sees that we have to get the party united behind one candidate and not waste money attacking each other while Dumb-ya continues to rake in the dough from his big business puppet-masters.

For those slamming Harkin for not endorsing his Senate colleague Kerry. Kerry is an intelligent man with an outstanding resume. But then again, so were Ed Muskie in 72, John Glenn in 84, and Bob Kerrey in 92. No matter how great your resume, you have to EXCITE THE VOTERS. The Kerry campaign (not Senator Kerry) has been abysmal. One year ago, Kerry looked like a shoo-in for the nomination. Now, I expect he'll be out after he finishes third behind Clark in New Hampshire.

The other big loser here is Gephardt. Sorry, Dick, the train just left the station with you on the platform. This also is more a reflection on Gephardt's campaign than on the Congressman himself. Once again, an unbelievably ill-run campaign. As important as organized labor is in our fight against Dumb-ya, you have to broaden your base beyond labor and folks in your neighboring state. Gephardt played a high-stakes game in pinning all on Iowa.

I agree with the previous poster, now its Dean v Clark. may the best man win!!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

50. excitement can only take you so far

you do not have to EXCITE THE VOTERS- to win. That is a false supposition.
Many many candidates have won on experience alone.

[janx]

65. The difference is that Dean "supporters" are actually the Dean

campaign. Dean, Trippi et al. trust us to work hard and to promote Dean in unprescribed ways. The danger of that is (for example) some sleazebag low-level volunteers who pretended to be Dean supporters pulling some pranks in Iowa, but they were dealt with in short order. Dean has always trusted his supporters and respected them. We get e-mail from the campaign, both nationally and locally, on a daily basis.

We are just American people who want our country back. Dean represents us. It's sort of an old, quaint, Constitutional idea...

[cindyw]

85. I find your remarks to be naive.

Dean has built a movement that makes people "feel" like they are connected. It is what makes them dedicated, but there are plenty of people running his campaign who are professionals. You guys are his constituents, not his campaign.


2nd I wonder if you will have a room in the West Wing. Will he still ask for your advice later. I doubt it given his record in Vermont.

[killbotfactory]

48. Everyone else is doing it...

He just wanted to fit in.

Obviously the man has no morals.

[NashVegas]

49. Just a Guess

When Gore endorsed Dean, he'd said Dean called him several times to discuss issues and seek advice.

I suspect that some politicians see Dean's strategy of coalition building, giving hints that he'll work with people, and they like it. A lot.

[Demobrat]

54. Dean is the best man for the job

and Harkin wants whats best for America. End of story.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

57. Or perhaps he just thinks Dean can win

which is a different thing entirely.

[Demobrat]

82. Don't think much of Harkin, huh?

Your perogative.

[FubarFly]

58. I guess Harkin doesn't read DU n/t

[windansea]

62. maybe Harkin didn't really mind

being lumped in with all the other beltway cockroaches

[LuminousX]

64. Or he, like Conyers, understood what Dean meant

[TLM]

63. Lets see.... how to respond.....

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

He was able to see through the endless onslaught of baseless bullshit attacks on Dean from desperate candidates and their supporters.

[slinkerwink]

70. let me guess----that's the sour grapes song being played in here

;-)

[JNelson6563]

72. Hear! Hear!!

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:
:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

73. Since you want so elevate the discussion here

:eyes: :eyes: :shrug: :eyes: :eyes: :shrug: :shrug: :eyes::eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :freak: :eyes: :shrug: :shrug: :eyes: :crazy:

[Ripley]

75. I suppose you could ask the same question of Gore.

Why now?

I believe they are trying to unite the Democratic party instead of divide it the way Kerry, et al are trying to rip it to shreds. Granted, I'm ignorant of the way these primaries work (haven't paid this close attention before)...so it seemed premature to me when Gore announced. However, I keep hearing everyone say they've never seen such a bloodfest of a primary before and this is not good for the Dems.

So, I see it as a gesture to halt the destructive in-party attacking. Of course I'm in no way saying Dean has a shoe-in. The voters need to speak. But the venom should be focused on Smirky, not each other.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

76. Did he switch from Kerry to Dean?

[mouse7]

113. He saw Kerry losing his home state (MASS) to Dean?n/t

Maybe Harkin didn't want to kill and eat anything?

[Donna Zen]

79. Backrooms

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

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

[duvinnie]

83. the attacks and innuendoes in your post

just floored me. let's see

- Dean is bleeding
- People are starting to feel sorry for Dean (yes, even bleeding-heart Harkin)
- Dean's support is suddenly coming from sleazy politicos like..yes, Tom Harkin, that
low-down bandwagon hopper
- Dean defense squad; interesting choice of words, akin to "goon squad"?
- Dean's enforcers are now committing electronic watergate-style crimes.
- Dean is no better than those florida repubs.

Wow! If this was an innocent query on your part, I wonder what an outright attack
is like?!

Irony aside..Tom Harkin is among the greatest living Americans today with his record
of service to ordinary folks (the kind that make up the Dean base). After Wellstone and
Kennedy, I can think of few others in the Senate that people of all political stripes can
and do respect more than Harkin. When he says that Dean is today's Truman, that
clinches it for me.

Go Howard!

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

88. Harkin's endorsement was in the bag...Dean just moved it up a few days

The obvious reason is that Dean needed the boost after a tough week. The more astute observation is that this shows very good strategy by the Dean campaign.

Dean knew this was coming, Trippi certainly knew it. A good campaigner keeps a few aces up his sleeve for just such an occasion.

As the campaigns come to a close, the one thing you can count on like clockwork, they're gonna get dirty. Down in the gutter, bloody, filthy, dirty. This shows me Dean is prepared, knows how to use his political capital and will be well tested when he goes for Bush.

By the way, I caught Dean on Inside Politics earlier...he is back in fighting form and did very well addressing the brouhaha over the highly overrated tape crap.

[duvinnie]

90. well good for him!

I think Dean loves a good bare-knuckles fight. This Iowa stuff will hopefully
get him 'seasoned' for what's to come. The other candidates (well Clark seems
to be keeping above the fray, and probably Braun too, but the others anyway)
seem to have nothing left in their arsenal but mud and lots of hit.

Bring it on, I say :)

[dsc]

89. funny you had nothing but praise for the man yestersday

what a sad commentary that you would go from praising him to the stars to intimating he is corrupt just because he dares endorse Dean. Shame oh shame on you.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

92. He did something I disagree with

and endorsing Kerry certainly would have shown more courage than backing the guy with the most money and ahead in most polls now. So the praise was based on a misassumption.
The bad feeling comes from the rejection of Kerry- someone he has known much longer and more closely.

[dsc]

98. In short he is now corrupt since he doesn't like your guy

I am glad I am not related to you, if your relative votes for Dean will you come on a message board and call him names too?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

101. I just might if they entered the Senate in 1984

and served alongside Kerry on many of the same committees.

[dsc]

103. Must burn your butt

that someone who knows Kerry so well knows my guy is better.

[drfemoe]

91. OTOH

Why in hell would he endorse a loser like Kerry? Or Clark?
Didn't you read Clark's blogs telling all his supporters to write and phone Harkin? It's not enough that Clark is going after Kerry's firefighters in NH, they think they should get an IA endorsement even though the General is not in play in that state. :crazy:

[Terwilliger]

93. He was probably waiting for Kerry to do something

and got tired of waiting

[NewYorkerfromMass]

95. besides convince several thousands they are backing the wrong guy?

what can Kerry do? and Terwillger, I respect a lot of what you say, so perhaps you can come up with something.

[Lobo_13]

96. has it maybe ever occured to you

that Kerry isn't the right guy? There is a growing list of people who don't agree with you.

After all, he's not exactly rolling in endorsements (comparitively), not many people want to vote for him, he's done a horrible job on the campaign trail.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

99. No

http://www.johnkerry.com/endorsements

[Terwilliger]

106. I dont know...what CAN Kerry do

is it up to me to fix his problems now?

[JVS]

108. Help him, Obi Wan Terwilliger, you're his only hope!

:-)

[Lobo_13]

94. Because Harkin has always been somewhat

theatrical. He waited until it would do the most good for the person he was endorsing.

You just got yourself another "Big deal."

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

105. "Question?"

Why did you say he was endorsing Kerry yesterday?



Edit: link http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=86391

[stickdog]

110. Because he thinks Dean is the Dem's best bet and he wanted to have a

the most possible pro-Dean effect on the Iowa race?

Nah, too obvious ...

[Clark Can WIN]

112. Harkin is savvy

and wants a taste of the WH. Even as flunkie.