Outsider Dean running insider-like campaign

[pruner]

Eight months ago, about all Dean had going for him in New York among the political professionals was the support of a former state party chairwoman, Judith Hope. A prodigious fund-raiser, the outspoken Hope was instrumental in restoring a party organization left broke and demoralized in the wake of then-Gov. Mario Cuomo's loss to Republican George Pataki in 1994.

<snip>

A week ago, at a major labor rally in New York City, Dean picked up the endorsement of Queens Democratic Chairman Thomas Manton and two members of Congress _ Joseph Crowley of Queens and Nydia Velazquez of Manhattan, the first Puerto Rican-born woman elected to Congress. He had earlier been endorsed by three other House members, Jerrold Nadler of Manhattan, Major Owens of Brooklyn and Maurice Hinchey, who represents parts of the lower Hudson Valley and Southern Tier.

The rally scene impressed Howard Wolfson, a key player in Hillary Rodham Clinton's successful 2000 Senate campaign in New York.

"There, standing behind the `outside' candidate was nearly every insider in New York _ half the congressional delegation, labor leaders, and the Queens political machine," Wolfson said. "It would have been a pretty impressive display of strength for an establishment candidate, much less an insurgent."

<snip>

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--marchumbert1129nov29,0,6558428.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[LeftCoast]

1. Thanks for all these posts pruner

Keep up the good work!

[slinkerwink]

2. looks like the Democratic party is finally coming to their senses!

;-)

[janx]

3. It's about time. But I'm glad they are doing so. We really

need them.

Slinkerwink, I think this is going to work!

[slinkerwink]

5. yep, me too!

:hi-fives:

All we need to do is to keep on picking up endorsements, raise more money, and put on a great show on Super Tuesday during the primaries, and we've got it made.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

4. Also from the article:

"I feel this is a good time to send that signal that the base is really broadening -- this is a guy who can represent the spectrum of the Democratic Party."

Geto thinks the black and Hispanic support that's been lined up also helps.

"There's no question that Dean's campaign started out sort of a middle-class, Internet-based campaign and that drove a critique that this is a pretty white campaign," Geto said.

"Over the last few months, the coloration of the campaign changed enormously ... Dean's campaign now has become enormously diverse," he said.

[slinkerwink]

7. yeah.....it's hard to say that Dean is unelectable

when he's being endorsed by people like Rep.Sheila Jackson Lee, and that other minority representatives are coming on board----I think the CBC will soon endorse Dean later before the primaries start.

[raysr]

15. GW was electable

Was the right person for the job? (RE: Pruner: idiotic thread)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

10. Glad to see he has gotten some support from black candidates - that's

one thing that was making me worry about a Dean candidacy.

[slinkerwink]

12. yeah, he's gotten an endorsement from Rep.Sheila Jackson-Lee

and will soon get an official endorsement on Dec.7th from Rep.Jesse Jackson, Jr.

[pruner]

14. Dean has the most diverse group of Congressional endorsements

Congressional Black Caucus:

Dean (4): Cummings (MD)* Jackson (IL)* Owens (NY) Jackson-Lee (TX)
Edwards (3): Wynn (MD) Johnson (TX) Watt (NC)
Kerry (2): Meeks (NY) Ford (TN)
Braun (2): Rush (IL) Davis (IL)
Clark (1): Rangel (NY)
Lieberman (1): Hastings (FL)
Sharpton (1): Towns (NY)
Gephardt (1): Clay (MO)

*Widely reported, but unofficial


Congressional Hispanic Caucus:

Dean (2): Velazquez (NY) Grijalva (AZ)
Lieberman (1): Cardoza (CA)
Sharpton (1): Serrano (NY)


Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus:

Dean (2): Abercrombie (HI) Wu (OR)
Lieberman (1): Case (HI)
Gephardt (1): Matsui (CA)

[Cha]

6. I remember Harold Wolfson from Hillary's

Senate campaign.. I liked him and always wondered what happened to him.


And, I've been seeing the name "Ethan Geto" connected with Dean here in New York and this is the first I've read more about who he is...

"A graying, imposing figure at 6-foot-5, Geto was drawn back into active political campaign work after a 10-year absence because of Dean's approval of civil union legislation in Vermont _ Geto is a gay rights activist _ and the candidate's early opposition to the war in Iraq."

[joefree1]

8. Go go People Powered Howard!

[slinkerwink]

9. yeah!!!

;-)

[JNelson6563]

11. Wow! Most excellent!!

Thanks for the good news. There seems to be more every day!

Julie

[slinkerwink]

13. :kick:

[Capn Sunshine]

16. Hey you two

why are you wasting time here on DU when you each have to write five letters to voters in New hampshire?