Is It Safe To Say That The Party Is Getting Behind Dean?

[rucky]

Is it also safe to assume that Bill Clinton - one of the few big endorsements still up for grabs - is not going to endorse anybody before the convention?

Of course the 8 other candidates aren't & shouldn't be getting behind him at this point - and they are all rightful & respected leaders in the party.

You can look at it one way: It's kind of encouraging that these guys would embrace an "outsider" like this. Are the party leaders reaching out to the disenfranchised voters that Dean is attracting? Of course, the term "outsider" is debateable. We've had that debate before.

Or another way: No matter what you think of Dean, it's kind of encouraging to see some form of unity in the party. It also show some semblence of a strategy - at least the appearance of unity - to make us look strong against the GOP.

Or yet another way: We're shooting ourselves in the foot again by backing the wrong guy. All the sudden everything's inside out & Gephardt & Kerry now appear to be the outsiders.

So now that Dean is becoming the new status quo, will he have the same appeal among the people who supported him in the first place? Is this a "mission accomplished" or a "sellout" from the Dean camp?

Edit/Clarification: I'm talking about the Party leaders & strategists. I'm not even close to assuming that voters will simply fall in line. I'm wondering if a strategy has formed in the backrooms of K Street.

[caledesi]

1. Well the "Big Dog" said in one speech....'fall in love with your

candidate, but if he isn't nominated, fall in line.' I say, that's true. I am for Dean, but if Clark or anyone else gets the nomination, I WILL fall in line. Any of our candidates can beat Bush* - I am convinced of it.

[MoonAndSun]

3. Well said, caledesi.......

Dean is my #1 and Clark is #2, but I will vote for the Dem nominee (please don't let it be Joe!!)

[Padraig18]

46. The PEOPLE are getting behind Dean.

Whether one is pleased with the development or not, it is undeniable that Howard Dean is re-invigorating an electorate sadly in need of the same. The leaders of the party san see what's happening and, being practical souls, are coming on board before the ship sets sail.

[PAMod]

2. It's too soon to say for sure.

Also, if they do it too early, it kinda messes with the outsider appeal, which I think has been huge for Governor Dean.

[rucky]

12. Well the party can't really tip their hand and outright say it

but we are seeing a pattern here. I don't think Harkin came forward because Dean called him a cockroach. He & the Party see the value in picking a guy (Dean) & a strategy (unity), then committing. What we're seeing is a shift from Dean as an outsider to Dean as a mainstreamer. That does take the McGovern factor out of a purely outsider strategy, and I think running as an outsider can only take you so far. Many folks wish it were happening to another guy, but regardless of the candidate, I welcome this shift - which will be apparent by convetion time.

Dean's nearly reached critical mass in the disenfranchised voter department, now it's time to rally the base & become a true mainstream candidate. This will rope in many of the swing voters, who will be reassured that Dean is indeed not the fringe candidate that some folks are painting him out to be. The beauty of endorsements is that Dean can keep doing what he's doing, but all the sudden his message carries that much more weight.

In business, there are consumers like you and me who like to try new products when they come out. But a majority of consumers need to feel comfortable with something before they try it. That's done thought repeated exposure, endorsements, and the perception of popularity (everybody else is doing it) etc.

[paulk]

17. what they see is fundraising

The candidate who raises the most money prior to the start of the primaries always wins, despite results in Iowa and N.H. It's the best indicator of the eventual nominee.

[rucky]

26. Leave it to $$$ to bring us together

:grouphug:

you are correct, sir. once again, it all comes down to the almighty dollar. Why do I keep forgetting about that?

[PAMod]

32. Very well put.

The sooner we are all together, the better - and I think if we want to close ranks asap, it will have to be with Dean.

That is good news to me, as I have been following Dean since Gore decided not to make the race.

[Monte Carlo]

4. Dean is a good guy, but he scares the hell out of me.

I think much of the country still has no idea who he is or what's in his record, and that there might be a shock (not necessarily good or bad, just a shock) when people start to look at him a little closer. His campaign supporters are filled with rather devoted, liberal people, but he himself is best described as conservative.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. he simply scares the hell out of me

I don't know what to add to that other than I am pretty certain he won't win.

[Monte Carlo]

14. It's not that I don't think he can win, it's that he's taking a big gamble

With all of this talk about energizing the base, bringing in new voters, speaking out against Bush, I'm worried that this amounts to trying to overpower Bush and the GOP. But for however much money Dean raises, for however many volunteers Dean recruits, for however much Dean tries to forcibly seize the debate, I'm worried that the Republicans are just too powerful to take on directly. They have more money, more devout volunteers, and a death grip on the debate. I don't think we can win this campaign by brute force.

[helleborient]

23. What is your suggestion for victory?

I'm just curious...

[Monte Carlo]

29. How should I know?

I just wanna express what keeps me from embracing Dean. His direct approach scares me because I think Bush is ready for it.

[Atlant]

20. Please come to the Dean campaign!

> His campaign supporters are filled with rather devoted, liberal
> people, but he himself is best described as conservative.

Please come to the Dean campaign! I think you'll find it filled
with all sorts of people. Here in Nashua, NH, we have folks
from all the way across the political spectrum including Greens,
Dems, Libertarian-leaners and reformed Republicans.

And NONE of us labor under the misassumption that Dr. Dean
is a flaming liberal. In fact, when I'm doing training sessions
for the folks who do our canvassing, I always make a point of
stressing that I don't agree with all of Dean's positions (I'm
a flaming liberal) but I greatly value the fact that he takes
positions and actually believes in those positions.

(I know that's not what you've read here in DU GD2004, but
I believe it to be true.)

I usually mention guns as an area where I disagree with him,
and I will always stress that he balanced the VT budget time
and time again, joking that this ought to be a conservative
position but somehow the Republicans have lost that particular
value.

The real power behind People-Powered Howard ARE the
people, and there are many, many of them from all walks of life.

You could join us too!

Atlant

[helleborient]

5. Much of the traditional liberal base is falling in behind Dean...

Time to reach out beyond it, though....

Among the endorsements...

Al Gore
Bill Bradley
Former Sen. Paul Simon

Legendary United Farm Workers activists Dolores Huerta and Richard Chavez

Sen. Tom Harkin

NJ Gov. McGreevey

IL Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn

Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Elijah Cummings

Multiple members of the Progressive Congressional Caucus (chaired by Dennis Kucinich)

John Conyers
Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Jim McDermott
Sheila Jackson-Lee
Jan Schakowsky

[goodhue]

13. Conyers

Did Conyers endorse Dean? Can't say I've been paying real close attention to Dean endorsements but I hadn't heard this about Conyers. Any links?

[helleborient]

22. Here's a link to the Conyers endorsement...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39768-2003Dec29.html

Go to the 12th paragraph down.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

7. Dean is getting the middle rank of the party

That's very good. The top levels and the celebrity politicians are split among the frontrunners, but the middle rank of the state and national parties are certainly going for Dean in large numbers. That only helps Dean of course.

Your random, only involved during the elections, Democratic voters, though, can be and are easily swayed by TV commercials.

[Hep]

8. The party is kind of getting behind Dean

But it seems to take an act of god.

[jumptheshadow]

9. Who's the party?

The voters still seem to be making up their minds and many of them do not seem to be leaning toward Dean.

[artr2]

15. and that is the way it should be

We are still going through the primary season. People will make up their minds soon. That doesn't stop me from working my ass off to get Howard Dean nominated as our standard bearer. And it doesn't keep you from working YOUR ass off to get your candidate nominated.I also want to say that I will support whoever our nominee is. NO MORE BUSH

[rucky]

18. I'm talking about the Party leaders & strategists

I'm not even close to assuming that voters will simply fall in line. I'm wondering if a strategy has formed in the backrooms of K Street.

[JasonDeter]

10. The brighter the spotlight on Dean the more uncomfortable I get.

The more attractive Clark is. I still support Dean for President and still believe he has just as good a chance to beat bush* as a coffee table does(bush* is dumber than a coffee table). I love Clark's intellect and his ability to give a 45 minute speech with out cue cards.

[fishguy]

11. No, check out national polls

Dean does not even run close to 20% in most polls.
And you call that the support of the party?!

[sandnsea]

16. The Washington Insider Party

Kerry has the on the ground, localized, grassroots party. That ought to tell people something.

[On the Road]

19. Kerry Has the Grassroots Party?

[sandnsea]

24. The on the ground support

He's got the local support in Iowa and several other states. These people aren't connected to Washington insider politics and they see him as the best person to beat Bush. All this Dean insider crap has been nothing more than a campaign strategy. Clinton ran the same way. People need to stop buying into hype and start looking at what people are really all about. Dean is about business and cutting services and general Republican philosophy. He wouldn't make any shifts in the Democratic Party at all. Maybe that's why the insiders are supporting him.

[helleborient]

27. Is Kerry changing his mind on something else now...and running as outsider

I must admit I get very confused...a few days back endorsements were unimportant and being an insider was important.

Now you're saying being an outsider is unimportant and endorsements are important?

[indigo32]

40. Well thats not the case here in MN

but thanks for playing. BTW the rest of your post is pure opinion. He's NOT a Republican.

[sandnsea]

42. Think again

He's got people in Minnesota, this is just the steering committee.

http://www.johnkerry.com/endorsements/pdf/mn_steering.pdf

And I didn't say Howard was a Republican, I said he operated on Republican philosophy. And of course it's an opinion, this is an opinion board. I don't know why people don't get that.

[helleborient]

25. How do you get more insider than Kennedy, Feinstein, Gary Hart, etc...

Kerry has said himself multiple times (and Gephardt as well) that an INSIDER like himself is needed.

[rucky]

38. Sorry. Wrong package for Kerry

I like the Kerry who's the incorruptable Washington Insider, fighting for reform from within the inner circles. I like the Kerry who has Joseph Wilson & Rand Beers at his side, waiting to drop the bomb on the BFEE.

Think Bobby Kennedy

[sandnsea]

41. The WHOLE package, the Real Deal

As usual.

[quinnox]

21. I think there are many doubts about Dean

among party leaders. Dean got Gore and Harkin, but I think the Clinton wing of the party is backing a different candidate, and I wouldn't bet against Bill Clinton.

[helleborient]

28. More party leaders are supporting Dean than anyone else...

Just look at the superdelegate counts...

And Dean is supported by both of the major candidates for the nomination 4 yrs. ago.

The only other serious candidates for President in recent time who have endorsed are Harkin and Simon for Dean, and Gary Hart for Kerry.

Clark is far down in the pack in superdelegate (party leader) support.

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

30. I see it a little differently

I think Dean is getting the party loyalists who are not big fans of McAullife and Co. There are a lot of us.

I'll say this again, McAullife is not going to go down without a fight. I fully expect McAullife to continue with the stink bombs and Dean smearing tactics. I'm keeping my eye on Clinton. If he abandons his pledge of not endorsing a candidate prior to the conclusion of the primaries, I will be totally convinced of my assertions.

If Clark appears to gain the kind of momentum that could give him a decent shot at winning, we'll find out real quick if I am right.

[rucky]

31. I Agree Completely

Clinton could really shake things up.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

33. Clinton will not endorse anyone

although Clark seems to be his ostensible choice.

[Atlant]

34. Clinton's a smart guy. He's not going to bet until he's sure...

Clinton's a smart guy. He's not going to bet until he's sure
that he's holding a winning hand.

That time will come Real Soon Now, but it isn't here yet.

Atlant

[PAMod]

35. If Clinton endorses anyone, the story very well could be...

that he went against his promise not to endorse before the convention.

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

37. No, the spin will be "I felt it important enough in beating Bush that I...

felt obligated to bring the party together." Yada yada yada.
We'll see. I hope i'm wrong.

[Snivi Yllom]

36. judging by the latest Drudge headline today

no

[Feanorcurufinwe]

39. I would get behind Dean if it meant I could kick him in the ass.

[sandnsea]

43. That would be a long ass-kickin' line!!

lol.

[jpgpenn]

44. no

[Lobo_13]

45. What I really think you're seeing

is a major split in the Dem party.

The folks that are endorsing Dean seem to be genuinely excited not only about the opportunity to beat Bush, but to make Washington about doing the work of the people. Notice the common theme in the endorsements is that we're taking the country back.

One could argue that the rest are the torpid Dems who got nice and cozy in their positions and don't really feel the need to change what they are doing.

[paulk]

47. the whole insider/outsider thing is a load of media crap.

It's all just product branding, sold to a compliant public ready to consume whatever they drop on our plates.

We're all trained to want this year's model, so every election they slap on a coat of paint and trot out (tada!) someone new - this time around it's Dean and Clark.

But now it looks like Dean is going to win too easily, and that's the last thing the media wants - so they "brand" Kerry and Gephardt as "outsiders" and "underdogs" and hope for a nasty, long primary fight. Cause that's where the advertizing dollar is.

And if it looks like Bush is going to win too easily, I fully expect they'll start dumping on him - after all, he's gonna have 200 million just burning a whole in his pocket.

The party leadership sees that Dean is the one with the most money - and they know it's really the media that elects our presidents. And the media reacts to only one thing. Money.