Dean needed two more weeks for his comeback

U.S. News- Washington Whispers ^ | 04/26/04 | Paul Bedard

[Pokey78]

They've had two months to figure out what went wrong, and now some of Howard Dean's key strategists think they know why he fizzled after his dismal Iowa showing. No, it wasn't the scream. He just didn't have enough time to stage a comeback a la Bill Clinton in 1992. "If we could have had two more weeks," says one, "we would have pulled it out." Insiders say Dean was "ticking up" 5 percentage points a day in the polls after the scream, but the New Hampshire primary came too soon, just a week later. Deaniacs note how Clinton turned his campaign around in 1992 after the explosive sex and draft-dodging charges. "He had time, like two weeks." Actually, it was 23 days between his 60 Minutes interview and the primary. Still, Dean's not bitter. In fact, friends reveal that he is raising money for former rival John Kerry with his extremely profitable E-mail list. "We've been gratified by the way Howard Dean threw himself into our cyberarmy," says Kerry spokesman David Wade . Dean's also lending his list to others, like Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy . One plea for Leahy raised $100,000 in just 24 hours.

[republicanwizard]

$100,000. I'm roaring with laughter. Bush or Cheney could whistle and raise that much and more.

[republicanwizard]

$100,000. I'm roaring with laughter. Bush or Cheney could whistle and raise that much and more.

[republicanwizard]

$100,000. I'm roaring with laughter. Bush or Cheney could whistle and raise that much and more.

[billorites]

"If we could have had two more weeks," says one...

Like I told my wife on our wedding night.

[OldFriend]

Little did Dean know, the dems were never ever going to allow him to win a single primary.

[longshadow]

"and now some of Howard Dean's key strategists think they know why he fizzled after his dismal Iowa showing."

And they would be wrong.

What no Deaniac will ever admit to is the reality that Dean's campaign was doomed to fail before it began. No candidate whose relevant experience can be characterized as having the National Security experience of a Dog Catcher from Danby-Four-Corners, the economic know-how of a quarry hand from Barre, and the Foreign Policy experience of a Carney Barker at the Tunbridge Fair is going to last very long in a post 9/11 presidential campaign.

Once the public scratched below the surface to see what Dean was bringing to the table, it was inevitable that they would find him lacking. Even Democrats.....

[VRWC For Truth]

The 'Toons pulled Howie's license to shill, he was their useful idiot.

[InvisibleChurch]

yeah, yeah... just one more year, one more blahblahblah ... he's a loser just like his kerry

[thoughtomator]

Or it could be because their man was a raving lunatic

[KStorm]

That they would say, in effect, Dean would be the "Clinton factor" this election proves the vote of no confidence in Mr. Facing Both Ways Kerry.

[x]

Dean couldn't win, but if he came back to cut enough liberal support from Kerry, he could have kept the race alive and given someone like Edwards a chance. Kerry was exceptionally lucky with the timing of the primaries. Iowa and New Hampshire were quite a one-two punch. If Kerry had been in the public eye a little longer, voters would have gotten disillusioned with him. It's no reflection on Dean's worthiness, though, just an indication that the longer and closer voters look at Kerry, the less there is to be enthusiastic or positive about.

[YaYa123]

I can't believe how stupid the democrats are....stupid, or willfully blind and silent out of cowardice, as to why Dean went down when he did. Stupid, blind, or obstinately refusing to admit the truth.

That scream speech was good, clean political fun for the roomful of Deaniacs. Within 24 hours, Mira Liasson told FOXNews she was in the hall, and it was totally different than it looked on tv. According to her, it wasn't over the top at all, the 300 + mostly college kids ate it up. And if you remember the tape, so did Senator Harkin. He was standing right in back of Dean, clapping, laughing, having a great time helping Dean pump up the supporters.

Think about it. If Senator Harkin had gone on tv to defend Dean, he could have shut down the Destroy Dean Machine, he could have done it before it even got revved up good. Just think how powerful Harkin is. If Harkin had gone on Chris Mathews, written an editorial in the New York Times, explained the event, and defended his candidate, Dean might have easily weathered what should have been a one week story.

Oh, Dean was doomed anyway, but his "irrationally exhuberant" antics just speeded up the process....thanks to Senator Backstabbing Harkin.

[Guillermo]

Dean served his purpose, which was to make Kerry look more "moderate."

[stylin19a]

I thought Dean was still in debt ? wouldn't it better serve him to "sell" the list ?

[BigWaveBetty]

"If we could have had two more weeks," says one, "we would have pulled it out."

And Dean thinks, 'Thanks a lot McAwful!', every night when he's sticking pins in his Terry McAwful voodoo doll.

[Graymatter]

Huh. Dean's no Clinton. 2 weeks would not have helped.

Personally I think Dean started irreversible decline when Natl Review put him on the cover. "Please nominate this man."

[YaYa123]

And I bet there've been many days since Iowa, when Democrats would have been delighted to ditch Kerry for Dean.

[Prime Choice]

Dean was a loose cannon. He was the Clown Prince of the Democrat Party, same as Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton. Their only function was to generate hype and press. Without them, things would have been even more boring than the Kerry candidacy.

What made Dean's downfall even more spectacular was the hot-and-heavy endorsements from the Sore Loser Brigade (Al Gore, et al) that simply came too soon in his bid for the candidacy. He basically shot his wad all at once and had nothing left after that. Then the French poodle waltzed in. End of story.

[pointsal]

Hell's bells....fella
You must be using one of them calendars from Canaduh......
one day is like a thousand years.........BULL