If Not Dean, Who?

[w4rma]

Richard Blow is the former executive editor of George Magazine. He is author of American Son: A Portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr., and is writing a book about Harvard University.

If the pundits have been consistent about one thing in this campaign, it's the argument that the Democrats will get slaughtered if Howard Dean is their presidential nominee.

He's not a national candidate, they say. He's too left-wing. He doesn't have enough foreign policy experience. By running as the centrist, tough-on-terrorism candidate, George W. Bush would beat Dean like a drum.

Or so they say.

But the Dean campaign has brought such unexpected energy into the Democratic primary that the Dems now have an entirely different problem: If Dean loses, the party will probably lose in November 2004.
…
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8877

[Cha]

1. That's right! Dean is our "Wild Card"!

but this race would be darn boring right now if it weren't for Dean!

Dean has so Many Good People Energized it's Revolutionary! :kick:


"It's true, a Howard Dean victory may pose a challenge for the Democrats. Dean has to show he can run credibly in the South, and he needs to get black and Latino voters as fired up as he has white Democrats. But as problematic as his candidacy might be, Howard Dean is making it increasingly difficult for the Democrats to nominate anyone else."

I just love this guy's strength! :kick:

[caledesi]

2. "He's a wild and crazy guy!" LOL!

[MasonJar]

3. Dean

Howard Dean is probably the only candidate who can beat Bush. We need the people out in force for the entire campaign. He alone seems able to do that. If Clark gets in, I'm not sure what his candidacy would be like, but Dean should appeal to those rabid gun-loving mambers of unions; he says he will talk to the people in the South, which should work. He is a fiscally conservative...just what we need. I will vote for whomever the party chooses, but he appears the stongest candidate from a get-out-the-vote standpoint. This country is in serious trouble if Bush isn't defeated.

[tedoll78]

5. Dean..

It may be anecdotal, but the number of stories I've heard of Dean getting crossover GOP voters is astounding.

That, and if he does bring that additional 3 or 4% of turnout in his favor, and if the race is as close as it was in 2000 (it looks like it's going in this direction), Dean can win the race with coattails.

[LeahMira]

7. A Choice Is Important!

Howard Dean is probably the only candidate who can beat Bush. We need the people out in force for the
entire campaign. He alone seems able to do that. If Clark gets in, I'm not sure what his candidacy would
be like, but Dean should appeal to those rabid gun-loving mambers of unions; he says he will talk to the
people in the South, which should work. He is a fiscally conservative...just what we need. I will vote for
whomever the party chooses, but he appears the stongest candidate from a get-out-the-vote
standpoint. This country is in serious trouble if Bush isn't defeated.

Like many, I'll vote for the Democratic candidate whoever that is (even Lieberman, but I hope it doesn't come to that!)

I can't imagine any Democrat voting for Bush simply because they don't like Dean or whoever the Democrats are running. The stakes are too high. It's the independents and undecideds that need to be persuaded and I think they need to be given a real choice... not Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Dean will go after Bush and he will offer alternatives. I'll trust him to deal with the South! I don't know how anyone deals with the South, but Dean will have to handle them.

It's about time we had someone in the White House who could bring back hope and idealism to the country. We need better and higher goals than just being the biggest, meanest guys on the block.

[LWolf]

4. If not Dean, then

any of the other 8 currently running. We've got * cold on every issue.

To me, trying to paint one candidate as the party's only hope or sure death is just wrong. It's a fear tactic. It's a weapon of mass distraction from the issue we should be focused on: choosing the best leader for our country. Based on issues and record. Not on fear. They all have strengths. And none of them have the depth of corruption and destruction inherent in the bush regime. Of course Dean can beat *. So can the rest of them. When the primary is over, we need to be able to take a strong message of unity, hope, and strength to * in the general election. It's our job to help the nominee win. No matter who that turns out to be. Fear tactics directed at members of our own party don't advance the cause.

[sduncang]

6. Dean Wouldn't Be My Choice.....but....

you have to give him credit. He's done a great job of organization and, as the article said, builds excitement. To come from nowhere to where he is now is impressive, (at least to this Democrat that's leaning to Gephart).

One thing I like about Dean - he's NOT a lawyer. And, another thing, he's record as governor of Vermont is impressive.