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LIVE THREAD: New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Debate
Fox News | January 22, 2004 | Carl Cameron/Major Garrett

Posted on 01/22/2004 3:58:25 PM PST by Howlin

Dems to Face Off in Debate

Thursday, January 22, 2004

By Liza Porteus

MANCHESTER, N.H.  — The seven Democratic contenders for the nomination to go head-to-head with President Bush in November will face off Thursday night in the last public debate before the New Hampshire primary.

The debate could be a make-or-break event for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (search) and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark (search), in particular, leading up to Tuesday's first-in-the-nation Democratic primary. Clark's campaign seems to have lost a little momentum to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (search) and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (search), whom many politicos see as a potential up-and-comer.

"I think if you're looking for an upset, look toward John Edwards ... there still could be a late break," said Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review.

Dean has seen his poll numbers spiral downward quickly and Clark's chances of getting one of the tickets out of New Hampshire could hinge on his performance in the debate, sponsored by Fox News Channel and scheduled to air at 8 p.m. EST.

According to a Fox News New Hampshire Primary Tracking Poll released Thursday evening, Kerry, still riding the "Iowa bounce" from his caucus victory in the Hawkeye State Monday night, is leading the race to win the New Hampshire primary. Dean continues to drop in the eyes of Granite State Democrats, according to the poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center (search).

Dean has dropped 7 percentage points in the last three days while Kerry has gained 6 percentage points. There was a potential sampling error of 4.4 percentage points.

Click here for the N.H. Tracking Poll (pdf).

Meanwhile, Fox News has learned at least one New Hampshire tracking poll to be released Friday will show Dean has slipped as far as third place.

The pollster, who requested anonymity, said, "Dean is done, he shot himself in the foot with his scream and has not done anything to stop the bleeding. Dean is going on Letterman next? He's crazy."

That "scream" was in reference to Dean's post-Iowa caucus outburst, in which he screamed red-faced into a microphone — a move that still has a lot of people shaking their heads.

"Not only are we going to New Hampshire ... we're going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and we're going to California and Texas and New York," he yelled. "And we're going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan. And then we're going to Washington, D.C., to take back the White House. YEAHHHH!!!"

Late-night talk shows are using the impassioned speech for comic relief, and remixes of the speech featuring the rock band Guns 'N Roses and house music are flying around the Internet at warp speed.

"There's something that happened in Iowa Monday night that I don't think you can undo," said Fred Barnes, co-host of Fox News' "The Beltway Boys." "The 'yeahhh' heard around the world."

Based in part on that incident, added the other co-host, Mort Kondracke, "the danger is, this guy will go postal in the middle of a world crisis."

Thursday, Dean made light of his political blunder, saying, "I still have not recovered my voice from my screeching in Iowa."

For more campaign news, click to view Foxnews.com's You Decide 2004 page.

The Debate

The presidential contenders campaigned their way into the final debate Thursday.

"It's an important moment," said Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (search), trailing in the polls behind Clark, Edwards, Kerry and Dean.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (search) and Al Sharpton (search ) also rated spots on the debate stage at Saint Anselm College.

Dean and Clark supporters arrived at the debate locale more than four hours early.

Dean's voice is still hoarse from his Monday night outburst. He wouldn't discuss his debate strategy if he had one, he said, "because I wouldn't like to make that public before we actually do the debate."

A large number of Democrats see Dean as the least consistent candidate in the field. Rival campaigns expect the doctor-turned-politician to take the edge off of his Iowa performance with self-deprecating humor.

"I think he'll take the risk. The question is, is he too cute?" asked Tony Coelho, former campaign manager for Al Gore and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. "If he's too cute and you add that to the hotness of the other night, it's not presidential."

The potential big winner of the night could turn out to be Edwards — whose poll numbers have been gradually rising — if he comes across as positive and upbeat as he has in recent weeks.

Clark's selling points have been his military pedigree and his southern roots, but Edwards is increasingly popular in the South and Kerry is also a respected military man. Clark spokesman Bill Buck said his boss won't launch verbal attacks against other candidates except Bush.

New Hampshire voters will be drawn to "Gen. Clark's very positive view of the possibilities of America's future," Buck said.

Kucinich told Fox News he plans on being completely honest as part of his debate strategy.

"It's really a matter of being true to yourself … it's important to focus on the purpose and my purpose in the presidential race," the congressman said in a pre-debate interview, adding he will focus on proving the Iraq war was unnecessary, pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq and inserting U.N. peacekeepers.

"It's so important we have a president that will lead this country to peace and prosperity and the only way to do that is to tell the truth," Kucinich said.

To continue and even further his lead, Kerry advisers told Fox News that the senator will try to stay above the fray in Thursday night's debate and look presidential and electable. He will not to attack and will try to respond gracefully to attacks against him.

"Kerry does not want in any way to get negative and he's going to have to deflect people who come after him," Coelho said. "So he's going to have to try to keep it calm. No mistakes, Kerry will win."

The Polls

Of the 489 likely New Hampshire primary voters who were interviewed from Jan. 19-21 in the pre-debate Fox News poll, 30 percent of likely Democratic primary voters support Kerry, 25 percent support Dean, 19 percent Clark, 8 percent Edwards, 7 percent Lieberman, 3 percent support Kucinich and 7 percent remain undecided.

An earlier Boston Herald poll of New Hampshire voters showed Kerry with 31 percent to Dean's 21 percent, while Clark had 16 percent. Edwards garnered 11 percent and Lieberman 4 percent.

A previous Fox News New Hampshire tracking poll taken from Jan. 18-20 showed Kerry and Dean in a virtual dead heat.

Fox News' Carl Cameron and Major Garrett contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections; US: New Hampshire
KEYWORDS: 2004; democratdebate; dnc; dwarves; livethread; nh
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To: GOPrincess
I can see Dean's people having him tone it down, but he's in zombie mode!
Edwards is just plain clueless.
I feel much more positive after watching this debate. I want to think that W's a shoein, but with the way things are in this country now, I take nothing for granted. I just don't see how anyone with a brain could vote for any of these men.
1,321 posted on 01/22/2004 6:11:50 PM PST by LisaMalia (Buckeye Fan since birth!!)
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To: sauropod
Exactly!
1,322 posted on 01/22/2004 6:11:53 PM PST by Howlin
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To: sirshackleton
Jennings is monopolizing. Get Brit on NOW.
1,323 posted on 01/22/2004 6:11:55 PM PST by Carolinamom
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To: Zechariah11
Say whatever you want.
1,324 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:01 PM PST by pulaskibush
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To: Peach
With Valium, he would be stupid and not alert. I think it is Depakote. Awake, but inhibited.
1,325 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:11 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Peach
Dean's blood pressure is obviously out of control. He was started on large dose ACE inhibitor, which is provoking his coughing spell.
1,326 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:13 PM PST by JusPasenThru (Reasoning with a man is futile when his opinions were not reached by reason in the first place.)
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To: sauropod
No, the govt will pay for R & D. The govt will take care of us.
1,327 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:16 PM PST by malia (BUSH/CHENEY '04 *A Cherished Constitutional right - the right to vote.)
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To: mylife
Joes message the the drug companies:

"Stop researching new drugs or go out of business"
1,328 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:16 PM PST by Sofa King (-I am Sofa King- tired of liberal BS! http://www.angelfire.com/art2/sofaking/index.htm)
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To: meetoo
Don't know what to tell you but keep trying. It's the only one I know of for the debate.
1,329 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:24 PM PST by Ophiucus
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To: Tuxedo
He may be winning the debate...but he STILL has 0% chance in the primary.
1,330 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:26 PM PST by hoagy62 (I'm pullin' for ya...we're all in this together.")
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To: ConservativeMan55
What's the deal with Jennings STILL asking questions? I thought BRIT was on for that now!
1,331 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:26 PM PST by alwaysconservative (FReepers should serenade Dean with the National Anthem, only using the correct words!)
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To: Quilla
I wish I had 1/20th of the power people around here think I have.
1,332 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:26 PM PST by Howlin
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To: Sofa King

Howard Dean in the dressing room of St. Anselm College in New Hampshire before his makeup artist gets him ready for the debate tonight. Dean was overheard saying, "Wait'll they get a load of me."
1,333 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:26 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat (I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!)
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To: Jorge
Dennis "Commie" Kucinich looks like a Vulcan.
1,334 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:27 PM PST by Tuxedo (Zed's Dead....)
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To: Howlin
Kuchie wants to visit planet earth.

Duh!
1,335 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:39 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: Carolinamom
All conservatives should vote for him in open primaries. He doesn't have a chance in hell of winning anything but Washington D.C.
1,336 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:39 PM PST by CurlyBill (Voter fraud is one of the primary campaign strategies of the Democrats!!!!)
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To: marajade
I did see my next door neighbor's daughter at the state of the union speech. She was sitting in for Rhenquist front row, asile seat. Way cool...lots of power!
1,337 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:42 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser (How could you believe me when I told you that I love you when you know I've been a liar all my life?)
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To: Carolinamom
I love it when Kucinich starts with "As President of the United States..."
1,338 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:47 PM PST by dagnabbit
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To: Tuxedo
Oh God. It's Dennis the Menace.

Biomass this!

1,339 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:47 PM PST by sauropod (Graduate, Boortz Institute for Insensitivity Training)
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To: Howlin
Audience members laughing at Kucinich when questioner asked about his most pressing issue?
1,340 posted on 01/22/2004 6:12:51 PM PST by mabelkitty
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