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It is inteded to work for teh Republicans in three ways.

1. Many of the Democrats in 1994 whined that Republicans weren't approving judicial nominees, and were using these tactics. In the 2004 campaign, they can legitamtely be attacked for using the tactics they argued against.

2. This is the biggie. Many of the nominees are female, Hispanic, black. The Republicans can run targeted ads saying the Democrats won't let women, Hispance and black judges get an up-or-down vote. It won't help much in the black community, but with Hispanics, women, and big-tent independents could be decisive.

3. Many of the judge candidates are Catholic. Dean is polling very poorly among Catholic voters already. Frankly, if the poll numbers I've seen are accurate and continue, Dean is dead on the Catholic vote alone.

In addition:

4. Dean was governor of Vermont. Vermont is 99%+ white. Based on his statement on Southerners with the Confederate flag, Dean is likely to make some major gaffe in the campaign concering blacks also. It isn't necessary to get the black vote; lower turnout is enough.

5. The issue that needs to be pushed hard is education. If Bush/Republicans can get past black apathy - example - one 1,000 student school where I teach has 12 parents in the PTA - and raise hope for education in the black community, the Democrats lose in every way. But he needs to sell, sell, sell that package.