Dr. Dean laughs last

[cal04]

By Salena Zito
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/zito/s_597420.html

The joke among Republicans when Howard Dean became chairman of the Democratic National Committee was that Howard Dean had become the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

They saw the brash, unorthodox, failed presidential candidate from the tiny state of Vermont as a gift that would keep on giving. What they got instead was a low-key party-builder with a bold idea to place money and people on the ground in ruby-red states that Democrats typically wrote off.

That Republican "joke" greatly facilitated President Barack H. Obama's victory Tuesday night.

Purdue University political scientist Bert Rockman says Dean's "50-state strategy" - compete in every state, regardless of whether it's Republican-red or Democrat-blue - was very controversial in Democratic circles, but it was strategically right.

(snip)
Another major factor in making this work was Obama's ground and Internet campaigns; both were textbook lessons on how to apply new technology and old-style Chicago retail politics to a presidential campaign.

But the ground game and Internet network would not have existed if Howard Dean had not pioneered them. The whole model for Obama's campaign was Dean's; Obama even brought the 2004 Dean campaign's Internet team to Chicago to build his own network.

[bitchkitty]

1. I loves me some Howard!

He was my favorite in 2004 and I hope to see much more of him over the years!

[lojasmo]

2. my man

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. wWouldn't he make a wonderful cabinet member?

HHS or Surgeon General? He deserves a nice sinecure.

[aquart]

10. No, he deserves a place where he can work hard and do good for us.

Like he has been.

[FLAprogressive]

4. and yet some turds still want Harold Ford Jr. as DNC leader. nt

[Muttocracy]

5. interesting part on Dean vs. Emanual in there. nt

[bertman]

6. I sent him and the DNC folks a thank-you email on Thursday. They deserve it.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. I think that this truth should be acknowledged by someone on Obama's team, if not by Obama himself.

It sure would be nice if some of the talking heads on the media would mention it.

But the ground game and Internet network would not have existed if Howard Dean had not pioneered them. The whole model for Obama's campaign was Dean's; Obama even brought the 2004 Dean campaign's Internet team to Chicago to build his own network.

I hope that President Obama is shrewd enough to use Dean in his administration. HHS would be perfect.

[psychmommy]

12. tweety did in an interview.

he said he was like john the baptist. he was out in the wilderness laying the ground game. i forgive tweety all of his bullcrap for that interview-it was great-but short.

[BrklynLiberal]

17. Thanks. I did not know that. It certainly increases my respect for Tweety.

[madfloridian]

8. Thanks for sharing. He is getting good kudos from the bloggers.

And his name is not mentioned by any Democrat. Oddly silent.

They are ending the staffers, the 50 state plan ends on Dec. 1.

[UpInArms]

9. UIA loves

Howard Dean

and he was my choice in 2004

he is the very best and we owe so much to the good doctor

without him the dialogue would always be whatever the GOPpiggies would say

he really is a wonderful example of humanity

[natrat]

11. i trust Dean, not so sure about ramalamadingdong and the rest of the dem establishment

[BlueMTexpat]

13. Howard Dean restored my faith in the US political system.

I know that I am not alone. I was a major supporter of his in 2004 and was so frustrated and angry by the way he was deliberately destroyed by our so-called "liberal" media. And also by some of his fellow Democrats, among them one Rahm Emanuel.

Whoever goes to the DNC helm had better continue the 50-state strategy or Dems will end up in the same sad and sorry state that we were in before 2006. As for Howard, he should get WHATEVER he wants, WHEREVER he wants it and WHENEVER he wants it. I wish that he wanted to stay at the DNC because his work there was fantastic, but apparently he does not. :applause: :woohoo:

[JustAnotherGen]

14. k/r

I'm very proud of what he's accomplished. I really hope he stays in the public eye and continues to serve his country! :-)

[MelissaB]

15. K&R

:kick:

[underpants]

16. Dean set the strategy-Obama determined the tactic

the tactic was block-by-block Chicago style politics. Implemented on front porches.

[judasdisney]

18. The joke's on Dean's detractors, like Carville & Rahm -- er, um...

I'm waiting for Obama to oust Dean, so I can wash my hands entirely of any support for Democrats.