Howard Dean, Serious Threat, Says Christopher Ruddy

Newsmax.com ^ | 11-10-03 | Ruddy, Christopher

[Theodore R.]

Howard Dean, Serious Threat Christopher Ruddy Monday, Nov. 10, 2003

Howard Dean is not to be dismissed. He is a serious candidate who will most certainly give George Bush a run for his money next year.

The former Vermont governor is the all-but-certain Democratic nominee – unless Hillary enters the race at the last minute.

This past week, Dean had some good news and some bad news.

The good news came from two of the nation’s largest unions.

The Service Employees International Union, the largest AFL-CIO affiliate, with 1.6 million members, endorsed Dean. He also won the support of AFSCME – the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

These unions will give Dean what he has lacked for final victory – ground troops in key primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and elsewhere to get out the vote.

The bad news is that the U.S. economy is rebounding, sharply. If that trend continues, Bush has a lock to win in November 2004, even if the “slog” in Iraq continues.

But for now, momentum is on Howard Dean’s side.

The growing support for Dean is no surprise to NewsMax readers. Earlier this year, when Dean was nothing but a blip on the radar screen, we reported that Dean was the clear favorite of the press to become president.

With positive media spin and, as Dick Morris says, the most successful Internet campaign effort ever, Dean has broken through to emerge as the clear front-runner among the eight dwarves and the general.

Washington Republicans, including President Bush’s adviser Karl Rove, are said to be pleased by Dean’s success. They believe that Dean offers shades of Michael Dukakis and George McGovern.

But Dean is neither. For one thing, the diminutive candidate makes a powerful impression on TV. Unlike Dukakis, who was cold and uninspiring, Dean is personable and persuasive. He impresses even me.

And unlike McGovern, Dean is no dove.

As Dean likes to say, he supported the first Gulf War and President Bush’s military effort in Afghanistan, but he has strongly opposed the recent Iraq war.

Since that war has not gone so well, Dean benefits. He looks better than many Democrats, for example John Kerry, who voted for the war but has since become critical.

Dean looks like a leader. He is also an outsider. As the Schwarzenegger win proves, Americans want outsiders in Washington.

Dean is also not a liberal Democrat in the traditional sense.

Chuck Noe’s investigative report for NewsMax Magazine, “Dean Unlocked,” gives the best insight into the real Howard Dean.

Many know, for instance, that Dean has won applause from the NRA. But he also took on environmentalists and the ACLU in Vermont and was also a fiscal conservative.

For the first time, NewsMax talked with the folks who know Dean best, the people of Vermont.

What we learned is surprising and worrisome for Republican prospects next year, especially if the economy is not back on track by that time.

[sweetliberty]

I think the only serious threat Howard Dean poses is to himself.

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[ken5050]

I agree..I think they both underestimated Dean's appeal to the large left fringe in the primaries...and the fact that he could win both Iowa and NH...six months ago, that wasn't in the cards....that's why they're going nuts now..

[bvw]

There's certain kinds of white guys who resonate with self-identifying "black" voters. Clinton was one, maybe sui generis. Dean, I bet, is another. The teeth. It's the teeth.

[You Dirty Rats]

It's not as early as you think. The nominating process as a whole takes place much earlier than in 1976. At this point, Dean is the frontrunner and leads in the most important category -- money.

That said, a lot can still happen, as you say.

[linn37]

I saw him on Russert,you are giving him way to much credit.

[oceanview]

all these thread on FR lately about the election of 2004 being "over", you folks are way too optimistic. The Dems start with 40-43% of the vote, and that base will stay with them, even in the face of some of the unreal things their candidates have said. 9/11 has changed only a small fraction of minds in the US, we have to accept that. Granted, even a small swing helps our side, but the 2004 election will not be a cakewalk, almost all of the states that went for Gore will go for Dean.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The only reason the Dems have continued to toloerate the Clintons is due to the fund raising. No we have learned that Hillary doesn't share and Dean has found another way to get his bucks.

The Clintons are exposed here at several levels and they have more than a few reasons to torpedo Dean's campaign.

[Theodore R.]

Dean will be easy to run against.

Conventional wisdom can be wrong. GA Jimmy Carter said he wanted to run against Reagan because Reagan would be a "pushover." GWHB tought that Clinton would be easy pickings too, for a while. At least ol' Barry Goldwater knew from the start that he could not defeat LBJ but ran to support the conservative movement. Dean may be much stronger than people expect. Which of the 20 Gore states is Dean likely to lose? That is a tough questions to answer. Maybe NM, but I am not sure that the GOP can take NM next year.

[desertcry]

Dean is a serious threat ....... Yes, indeed, particularly to hillary.

[Wphile]

Oh, I agree and certainly the Bush campaign doesn't think this will be a cakewalk either. I was at a campaign meeting the other day and all the talk was, "this is going be another razor thin margin of victory." There is no room for complacency whatsoever.

[NutCrackerBoy]

The 2004 election will not be a cakewalk.

I know, but will it be a quagmire, or just a slog? While we're at it, is Dean really an imminent danger, or just grave and gathering?

[Theodore R.]

Dems start with 40-43% of the vote

It may be more than that. Dukakis got 46 percent; Gore, Jr. 48.5 percent.

[mac_truck]

The bad news is that the U.S. economy is rebounding, sharply.

This is either an example of very poor writing or naked bias on the part of Christopher Ruddy.

[Theodore R.]

Ruddy is a good writer, but we all slip up from time to time when writing in volume. When he sad "bad news," he meant "bad" for the Democrats.

[NutCrackerBoy]

The context was clear: This past week, Dean had some good news and some bad news.

[GO65]

For the first time, NewsMax talked with the folks who know Dean best, the people of Vermont.

What we learned is surprising and worrisome for Republican prospects next year, especially if the economy is not back on track by that time.

I spoke last week with a friend of mine who lives in Vermont, he's a staunch Bush supporter but he is also a fan of Dean. He argues that Dean is no Dukakis, he's clashed with liberals often as Governor.

[GO65]

Dean has been calling for the COMPLETE reversal of Bush's tax cuts, including those for the "middle class". You dont get the clear majority of the liberal base to support you unless you say all the things liberals want to hear, and how far can he backtrack? I think Ruddy is wrong, Dean will be easy to run against.

How is it "liberal" to argue that the massive costs incurred in the war on terror ought to be paid for via taxes instead of via borrowing from the Chinese as we are currently doing? Is it "conservative" to fund the largest debt in U.S. history by borrowing from the Chinese?

[GO65]

However, his current campaign suggests neither of these.

In primaries Dems run to the left, Republicans run to the right. In the general election they converge in the middle. This is politics.

[Eva]

Dean has one big negative, Hillary does not want him to win.

[Old Professer]

Uncle Remus touting the perils of the briarpatch, again.