Joe Trippi Is Squeezing the "Vi$e"

[tsipple]

I'm still trying to digest the historic event Howard Dean's supporters chose: to be the first Democratic campaign to opt-out of the federal matching funds system. I'm only now figuring out all the ramifications of this big, bold step.

There are all kinds of ways this move was smart. Here's another: Joe Trippi is squeezing the "vise" on his primary opponents. Here's why.

1. No other campaign is anywhere near in danger of bumping up against overall federal spending caps in the primaries. (Kerry is the closest, but by my estimates he'd still be $12 million shy of the $45 million overall cap, and that's with matching funds.)

2. Many other campaigns are expecting a big fat government check in January, 2004, to keep their campaigns operating. (They designed their campaigns this way and spent accordingly.)

3. Dean is making a statement that he needs the ability to raise additional money to compete against President Bush who already violated the matching funds system. Even the much maligned Terry McAuliffe is saying Democrats need to do that.

4. So, if you're a Dean opponent, you're faced with a dilemma:

a. Stay in the system and you risk getting branded "unelectable," because you won't have the ability to fight against Bush on a more level financial playing field after the primaries.

b. Opt out of the system and you starve your campaign of much needed funds: millions of dollars in January.

So not only is Trippi preparing Dean to do battle against Bush, he also figured out a way to potentially subtract money from Dean's primary opponents' bank accounts.

Joe Trippi is a genius.

[mdmc]

1. Yup. That Trippi is no slacker

:dem:

[MrSoundAndVision]

And a lot like Karl Rove...

Is that a good thing to you? Winning on merits and democratic principles isn't enough huh? Well congratulations, you Dean supporters have bought your nomination! hiphiphurray.

[JohnKleeb]

3. dont be a jerk about it

I know its hard to keep your cool believe me its hard for me too. I hate it just as much as you do when the outcomes of things are determined by the green that is money.

[tsipple]

4. I Feel a Lot Better...

...that it's $77 average per person, though. Bush's $2,000-a-plate fundraisers are infinitely worse.

Actually, Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean are virtually tied for the "skew" of their contributions toward the small dollar amounts.

[JohnKleeb]

6. That is a hell of a lot better

We're just as grassroots just not as much money but hey the book is helping immensely imo. Congrads on the sucess.

[helleborient]

16. Thank you! (n/t)

[JohnKleeb]

17. no problem

[MrSoundAndVision]

9. I'm sorry John...

but I just don't think that it is a good thing.

[sendero]

22. Yeah...

... lets stand on "principle" and lose the election. No thanks.

[democratreformed]

14. Yeah

I am just sick to death of money ruling the world. It is really very sad and takes away some of my hope for the future.

[helleborient]

18. Small (under $100) donations on average don't inspire you?

So you would rather a candidate with more $2,000 contributions and an average of donations significantly higher win out...simply because their total of money is less?

Should we put together a candidate with 2,000 wealthy friends and be happy they defeat a candidate with 15,000 supporters who give smaller amounts because the one with the 2,000 wealthy friends raised a smaller overall amount?

Simply put, more individuals have given money to Howard Dean than any other candidate. Why is that a bad thing for electoral politics?

If each donor was a vote...Howard Dean defeats all other candidates. That's democracy.

[Upfront]

20. No John

outcomes are determined by enough people who want their candidate to win so bad that they were willing to give the money.

[NNadir]

7. It was small spontaneous donations, motivated by merits.

If you have an inspiring candidate, you have inspired support.

We are not "buying" the nomination, we are on our way winning it the way it is supposed to be won, by motivating committed broad support.

I suspect that this whining is because you have chosen someone less inspiring, less organized, less effective and more scattered.

Our candidate has a history of accomplishment of which we are all proud. If you attack us for being successful, you are probably one who regards failure as some kind of merit. This is a dubious moral position in the age of Bush.

As for Rove, he is simply the tally keeper of bribes. He represents something very different than we do: I know personally that the money I've sent to Dean is no bribe. I want nothing in return for it other than having him working in the White House for a better future.

[ClintonTyree]

10. Reality.............

why don't the other candidates' supporters contribute more money? Are Dean supporters to be singled out because there are more of them and they activley suppport his campaign? I really don't get it, how is Dean "buying the nomination"? IF the other candidates had the support Dean has they might be able to the same. They can't. Why? They don't have the support, pure and simple. Dean may not be the best man for the job, but apparently his message is getting through to many more people than the other candidates'.
Unbelievable.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. Pretty obvious.

Unfortunately, it needs to be stated.

[Padraig18]

11. Ummm

At a $77 average donation for Dean, the comparison with Rove's $2000/plate rubber-chicken dinners is unfair; it is also a direct expression of the amount of support Gov. Dean has that he has approached the cut-off point almost 10 weeks before the IA caucuses.

Make no mistake about it--- this campaign to defeat * will NEED money, and lots of it, if we are to unseat him.

[Northwind]

12. You did not actually...

... believe that campaigns were won "on merits and democratic principles" did you?

I mean, seriously, are you blind? Have you just never payed attention to politics before now? What could possibly make you think that merit or principle has anything to do with winning a campaign.

Let;s go back just a few years.

Reagan won by being an alternative to a guy much of the country blamed for a bad economy (inaccurately) and a guy who was seen as mishandling the Iran hostage crisis (also inaccurately, as the alleged mishandling was actually engineered by the GOP). Merit and principle did not enter into it.

Bush I won by being incumbent and because Dukakis did not really give people a good reason to vote for him. No merits or principles here at all.

Clinton won by being a younger, hipper guy that played sax on Arsenio Hall. Merit and principle content? Zero.

Clinton got re-elected by being incumbent and having an opponent that was one of the Undead.

Bush II got "elected" through voting booth funny-business and by pretending to be something he is not.

Where, exactly, do you see merit and principle in any of this? Wake the fuck up.

[helleborient]

15. This all sounds so silly....

Howard Dean's campaign bears much similarity to Bill Clinton's - governor of a small state gathering momentum to go from nowhere in polls to leading.

Howard Dean's financing comes from smaller average contributions than any of the other leading Democratic candidates.

How is this anything like Bush's and Rove's campaign finance approach?

[Le Taz Hot]

21. Your posts have become tiresome

as one-trick ponies often do. <flush>

[dsc]

2. I really think this isn't about anyone but Bush

Dean was in no danger of hitting caps in early states. He was hitting a total cap on fundraising and facing a decision. He is rightly thinking of Bush and thank God for that.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

5. Interesting point

I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. Trippi has handled this campaign almost flawlessly.

[Larkspur]

8. And when Dean airs his ads attacking Bush's aircraft carrier landing

he will be killing 2 birds with one stone -- Bush and his Dem competitors. Dean will be presenting himself as the de facto Dem nominee when attacking Bush and he'll be making the other Dem contenders look like whiners when they complain about Dean's fundraising prowess and spending. If Dean uses his funds from us to create anti-Bush ads, he can say that he's not attacking the Dem nominees.

I can't wait for that new ad.

[dd123]

13. Even McCain said Dean was probably right to do this.