DEAN REGRETS MASSIVE CAMPAIGN SPENDING

AP ^ | 02/01/04 | AP

[Pikamax]

DEAN REGRETS MASSIVE CAMPAIGN SPENDING

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(02-01-2004) - Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said Sunday that he regretted burning through most of the $41 million his campaign raised last year on losses in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"We took a gamble and it didn't pay off," Dean, the one-time front-runner for his party's nomination, told NBC's "Meet the Press."

The former Vermont governor laid out his campaign strategy, looking past the next round of primaries and caucuses in seven states on Tuesday, with eye toward the Feb. 7 caucuses in Michigan and Washington state and the Wisconsin primary 10 days later.

"We probably won't win someplace by Feb. 3, with the possible exception of New Mexico," he said. New Mexico is one of the seven states with contests on Tuesday.

But Dean vowed to press on, maintaining that "this race is about delegates." He was quick to point out that while rival John Kerry won the first two contests, he has more delegates at this point than Kerry.

Dean has 114 delegates to the Democratic convention, to Kerry's 103, of the 2,162 needed to win the nomination, according to an Associated Press tally. A total of 269 delegates are up for grabs in the seven states. Democratic delegates are awarded proportionately based on the popular vote cast within individual congressional districts as well as a state as a whole.

Dean insisted that he won't play the spoiler if he doesn't have enough delegates to win.

"I'm not going to do anything that's going to harm the Democratic Party. If we get blown out again and again and again ... if somebody else gets more delegates and they clinch it, of course, I'm not going to go all the way to the convention just to prove a point," Dean said.

During his one-hour appearance on the show, Dean continued his criticism of Sen. Kerry as a Washington insider with deep ties to special interests, charging that the Massachusetts lawmaker has raised more money from lobbyists over the past 15 years than any other senator.

"That is exactly what's wrong with American politics and that's why 50 percent of the people in this country don't vote," Dean said.

Kerry has defended himself, saying he has never taken money from groups, but from individuals, some of whom were lobbyists.

Dean insisted on the program that he stands by his criticism and won't apologize.

Dean's Sunday schedule had him in Wisconsin and Michigan. In Milwaukee, he met privately with black leaders, then spoke at the Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ. President Bush visited the same church in July.

Dean touted his record on health care and his position on affirmative action, but avoided a critique of his rivals in favor of a more agreeable tone at the church.

"I am blessed, I am grateful and I thank you," he said. "Praise the Lord."

[LRS]

I can't stop crying...

[Cicero]

Think positive. This guy has sucked up $41 million dollars from leftist donors and poured it down a rat hole. No doubt there's more where it came from, but it couldn't have happened to a better bunch of people.

[ChadGore]

Dean is gonna loose bad here in Wisconsin.

[Pubbie]

"Dean is gonna loose bad here in Wisconsin."

I think so to.

What do you think of the US Senate race in WI?

[Paul Atreides]

He's just like Bubba: you can't get either one to shut up, especially about themselves.

[Aracelis]

Howie...would you like a little cheese with that whine?

[CasearianDaoist]

Not to mention introduce a whole new generation of voters to the corruption that is the Democratic Party. I pretty down with it. I just hope that a third of it was spent in Iowa, they could use the bucks.

[joesnuffy]

Yep....He and Feingold better pack a lunch...

[KC_Conspirator]

I think Dean's gamble and gameplan to bring in "new voters" was overhyped. These "new voters" were just young campus radicals who are more loud than they are numerous.

[Paul Atreides]

These "new voters" were just young campus radicals who are more loud than they are numerous.

And, no attention span.

[jonascord]

If that's how he spends his own money, what would he do with taxpayers? The mind trembles!

[VadeRetro]

Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said Sunday that he regretted burning through most of the $41 million his campaign raised last year on losses in Iowa and New Hampshire.

If I had spent 41 million on something and didn't get it, I'd be unhappy too.

[steveo]

New Dean scream:"Dooooohhh"

[CasearianDaoist]

Well here in New York there were a lot of them. I think that most of his "consituency" were the hard left that still votes, old hippies, hipsters, campus radicals and the urban artsy farsty crowd. So think that there were a lot of "new voters" in the sense that it was the first time that they actually got involved in a campaign or the primary system. I think it is good for them to see how their party really works as well as get a reality check on how far out of the nainstream their politics really are.

[VadeRetro]

"That [Kerry taking lobbyist money] is exactly what's wrong with American politics and that's why 50 percent of the people in this country don't vote," Dean said.

C'mon, Howie! Nobody believes you believe that. Wherever you got it from, you outspent him 3 to 1 and lost.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I'll file this headline in my "No S--t Sherlock" folder.

[KC_Conspirator]

I think that most of his "consituency" were the hard left that still votes, old hippies, hipsters, campus radicals and the urban artsy farsty crowd.

I think you pegged Deaniacs right on (add gay racicals as well), all hating America and Bush, every last one of them. Actually, the voting numbers have not increased, but Dean's willingness to let the radicals into his campaign was new. The dems have tried to cover them up since Klinton in 92'.

Hell, in NY there are 5 rats for every Republican.

[anniegetyourgun]

Here's to more D spending....their own money, that is....

[CasearianDaoist]

Excuse me, there are 5 rats that vote for every Republican.