Dean Faces Empty Seats as He Nears Possible End (Deanilla Ice)

Yahoo! News ^ | 2-15-04 | Thomas Ferraro

[Paul Atreides]

RACINE, Wis. (Reuters) - Democrat Howard Dean (news - web sites) faced scores of empty chairs in a half-empty hall on Saturday as he neared an anticipated defeat in Wisconsin's primary next week that could end his White House hopes.

In stark contrast to the massive crowds and stand-up passion he generated just months ago as the party's front-runner, the fading anti-war, anti-Washington maverick drew only a few hundred people who remained in their seats and applauded politely.

One of the biggest applause lines came when Bob Nemanich, an executive recruiter and local school board candidate, rose and told the former Vermont governor, "I want to thank you for having the courage to challenge the president and ruling Republicans."

Win or lose, Nemanich told Dean, "You defined the issues."

Dean tapped in early in his campaign to voters' concerns about the war in Iraq (news - web sites), health care, education and the soaring federal deficit, energizing Democrats across the country and sharpening criticism of President Bush (news - web sites)'s Republican administration.

"Thank you," said Dean, standing in Festival Hall at the Racine on the Lake Civic Center in this Wisconsin town.

Nemanich said afterward he was disappointed when he saw so many empty seats. "My take is that unfortunately a lot of people think that the decision has already been made," he said.

A recent poll of Wisconsin Democratic voters showed Dean far behind Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts, who has surged past him in the race for the 2004 Democratic nomination and the right to challenge Bush in November.

Dean lost two more Democratic presidential contests to Kerry on Saturday, in Nevada and Washington, D.C., dropping his record to 16 defeats without a victory. He has said the Wisconsin primary on Tuesday will be a "make-or-break-state" for him in many ways as he seeks to mount a comeback in the big states ahead.

While he has insisted he will fight on even if he loses Wisconsin, Dean intends to return home to Burlington, Vermont next week to regroup and assess his strategy.

Asked in an interview with a local television station if he will remain in the race if he loses on Tuesday, Dean replied, "You will find out on Wednesday."

Dean began the day with a prayer breakfast at a black church in Milwaukee, where he received a warm reception from a gathering of about 100 people, many of whom were noncommittal about who they would vote for next week.

Milwaukee Mayor Marvin Pratt, asked if he supported Dean as he introduced him to members of the gathering, would say only, "Howard Dean is a friend of mine."

Don Roman and Ralph Dawson, both African-Americans who roomed with Dean while they were students at Yale more than a generation ago, came to Wisconsin from their homes in Atlanta and New York, respectively, to support their former classmate.

"I still believe in Howard Dean. I still believe he can win," said Roman after he and Dawson made a pitch for Dean at the prayer breakfast. "I know he has the record, experience and the heart to be a great president."

[Gunrunner2]

Hang in there Dean, you have a bunch of people out there pulling for you. As a conservative I urge you to keep chasing the dem's nomination, and failing that, run on your own ticket---please!!

[Paul Atreides]

[beckysueb]

Yes Please!!!!!!!!!

[ChadGore]

Deanilla Ice ROFL !! CLASSIC !

[ChadGore]

[Jimbaugh]

http://www.glennbeck.com/election04/howarddean.htm

Do go HOWARD ! ! !

[ChadGore]

Deanilla Ice. I love that line. How long untill coward dean shows up in an issue of the "surreal life" with al gore?

[nmh]

Maybe when the room is totally empty he'll figure out he needs to bow out.

[Paul Atreides]

He looks like one Spiccoli's friends, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

[Recovering_Democrat]

And here, we see the final "Deaniac" sending the last of the former Vermont governor's campaign literature to its final resting place...

[Paul Atreides]

I doubt it. Look how long Carol Mostly-Brawn stayed in the game, and she had empty seats from the get-go. As long as Deanilla thinks that John Smallberries is vulnerable, he'll probably stay in.

[KC_Conspirator]

You mean Eric Stoltz and Anthony Edwards?

[Paul Atreides]

"Me? Support Deanilla Ice? Oh no, that was just a joke. You know, having a little fun. Besides, there were a lot of people who were listening to Deanilla Ice at the time."

[brewcrew]

C'mon, all you Wisconsinite FReepers - vote for Howard Dean on Tuesday in our open primary! He's so much fun to watch!

[Paul Atreides]

Yeah, total airheads. He has that dopehead look.

[Paul Atreides]

He's so much fun to watch!

It's as if some geneticist crossed Al Gore with a pit bull.

[brewcrew]

It's as if some geneticist crossed Al Gore with a pit bull.

Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh!

8^D

[AngrySpud]

Dean: " ... a lot of people think the decision's already been made."

Yeah ... and you telegraphed it days ago!

[AngrySpud]

'rats are mindless ... but they know when to leave a sinking ship.