Dean Goes All In. Betting big in New Hampshire.

NRO ^ | January 26, 2004, 9:39 a.m. | By Chip Griffin

[.cnI redruM]

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Joe Trippi, Howard Dean's campaign manager, must be caught up in the poker craze that seems to be sweeping across America these days. Their activities over the weekend clearly indicate that the Dean campaign has decided to go "all in" with their chips in New Hampshire.

As anyone will know who has watched Celebrity Poker, The World Poker Tour, or any of the other TV shows about the card game that have proliferated in recent months, the popular tournament game of "No Limit Texas Hold'em" allows the player to bet all of the chips he has on one hand. In the terminology of the game, this is called going "all in."

Often, a player must go all in when his chips have dwindled to a precious few and he has no hope of surviving the tournament without a big win. And that's where Dean stands today. Without a strong showing in the Granite State, Howard Dean is as good as done. The former Vermont governor really has no choice but to bet big here.

And betting big he is. The Dean campaign has pulled TV ads in all states except New Hampshire. They are dumping 120,000 videotapes of the Diane Sawyer interview all over the state (enough for about 1 out of every 10 men, women, and children here). The reclusive "Doc Judy" has even begun to pop up almost as much as a whack-a-mole.

Will it pay off? It might. The (admittedly) notoriously unreliable tracking polls seem to indicate that Dean's freefall has abated and some even suggest a little recovery. These same surveys show that Dean's supporters are solid, with roughly three-quarters saying they won't change their mind. Of course, if you're still with Dean today, one has to figure it would take a tsunami to change your vote if the events of the past week haven't softened you. All in all, the Dean campaign has to be feeling better today than they did one week ago.

Now the chips are in and the cards are about to be turned.

[.cnI redruM]

Let's hope Howard has to fold....

[pgkdan]

Not me...I'm betting on a Dean win in NH. I know I'm planning to vote for him in VA's primary. Bush and Cheney will make mince meat of the nasty little 'Rat in November.

[finnman69]

Clearly there is a tracking movement that Zogby and ARG identified..undecided are going to Dean and Kerry's bounce is fading. Clark is dropping.

[gridlock]

Personally, I'm hoping for a big Dean win in NH, with Kerry coming in second. Dean is the one Democratic candidate who can be reliably counted on to self-destruct at the critical moment.

So my best case scenario is Dean drags things out while eventually losing to Kerry, with Edwards shut out.

Edwards is the only one who can hurt Bush, IMHO.

Clark is toast.

[southernnorthcarolina]

The reclusive "Doc Judy" has even begun to pop up almost as much as a whack-a-mole.

Interesting choice of words. She does remind me of a rodent of some kind... Perhaps she knawed through her restraints and got loose in New Hampshire.

[mwl1]

Let's hope Howard has to fold....

You can't be serious. We want Dean to win tomorrow, and every Bush supporter who is eligible to vote as an Independent tomorrow should pull the lever for Dean.

[Kozak]

They are dumping 120,000 videotapes of the Diane Sawyer interview all over the state (enough for about 1 out of every 10 men, women, and children here).

GOT to violate some Federal anti- polution law. Got To.

[ConservativeDude]

i think a dean victory in NH might well be more dramatic for establishing the big mo than a victory in iowa followed by a nh victory....it will show his campaign they can't take anything for granted. if dean wins in NH, he could be right back in this thing!

keep your fingers crossed!

[Always Right]

Now the chips are in and the cards are about to be turned.

Unfortunately Dean is playing with a 2-5 off suited and everyone knows it.

[Kozak]

Ditto me in Wisconsin. The longer and bloodier the Rat fight to the nomination, the better. Heh, heh, heh....

[.cnI redruM]

I thought Democrats were against dumping. It hurts American industry almost as badly as the prospect of Howard Dean taking the oath of office.

[deport]

Dean want fold if he comes in 2nd......

Zogby's 3-day average has the race at a 3 point spread between Kerry and Dean.... ARG is showing Dean moving up in their 3-day poll.... What these are showing is the that the last day of the 3-day average in the polls is showing a strong movement towards Dean..... If it holds or even is true is yet to be seen.....

[pgkdan]

Nobody's better at spotting trends early and picking the winner than Zogby.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Dean 35%

Kerry 29%

Edwards 17%

Clark 10%

[finnman69]

Well Dean pissed off ABC by not getting their permission to use the interviews. LOL

[.cnI redruM]

He sure got Iowa right.....

[LibFreeUSA]

Freepers for HOWARD!!

GO HOWARD GO!!!

Then we can dump on you!!!

[finnman69]

Today's poll result's should offer a clearer picture of the Dean return.

[lonestar]

Not me...I'm betting on a Dean win in NH.--- Bush and Cheney will make mince meat of the nasty little 'Rat in November.

Me, too. Besides, Kerry reminds me of "Dead man walking." I couldn't bear to listen to him for four years!

[maggief]

Memo to Dean: In Texas Hold 'em you need to play with a full deck, ... no jokers.