Howard Dean in New Mexico

[LuminousX]

Howard Dean's New Mexico Love-In


"Gov. Dean has an impressive array of endorsements from New Mexico from Hispanic and Native American leaders," Richardson said. "Literally, my organization's endorsed him."

His organization?

When Richardson's office was pressed for an explanation on just what the governor meant by his "organization," the response was simply "his coalition of supporters." Richardson's choice of words, however, seemed intentional.

New Mexico is one of the seven key primary states on what has turned into a mini-Super Tuesday on February 3. The other states selecting their nominee that day are South Carolina, Missouri, Delaware, Oklahoma, Arizona and North Dakota. Because of New Mexico's high minority population, it is viewed as particularly important, as is South Carolina because of it's "first in the South" status.

Richardson, due to his role as Chairperson for the convention cannot endorse any candidate, yet he is clearly showing an amazing amount of support for Dean. So, what is wrong with Richardson? Is he a GOP plant trying to overthrow the Democratic party? Is he a poor representation of Hispanics in the USA? Is New Mexico not as critical as this article indicates?

I'm still in my 'good mood for Dean' and am being overly optimistic, but I am sensing a landslide for Dean.

[helleborient]

1. Yes, Dean's multi-ethnic support is strong and getting stronger...

Endorsements from Jesse Jackson, Jr., Sheila Jackson Lee, and Elijah Cummings

Endorsement from David Wu

Strong campaign in New Mexico among Hispanics and Native Americans

I'm confident we can bridge some of those gaps between black and white voters in the South, too!

[Rose Siding]

2. Here's one possible definition for the "organization"

Look who's at the podium of the New Democratic Network (NDN)

http://www.newdem.org/

Approval, if not endorsement was expressed by the NDN a few days ago in an article about the Dem Party.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. NDN...

The answer to the DLC.

[sfecap]

3. Gov. Dean has a huge presence here...

And a very strong organization in New Mexico. He will win the caucus in February, no doubt about it.

Here's a couple of photos of Gov. Dean's first appearance in Santa Fe, where he drew 2500 people at a rally. (We had only 2 weeks to organize this rally. What a turnout!)

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/Santa%20Fe,%20New%20Mexico%20008.jpg

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/Santa%20Fe,%20New%20Mexico%20010.jpg

[Feanorcurufinwe]

17. So all of the people in those pictures believe Dean's lies?

Amazing.

[eissa]

19. Must have been the kool-aid n/t

[LuminousX]

22. Sometimes, when you think the entire world is crazy...

it isn't the entire world that is.

[LuminousX]

4. The way I see this, is Dean is playing the game 2 moves ahead

None of the other candidates seem to be campaigning in New Mexico yet, still trying to get their legs in Iowa and New Hampshire with a few beginning to organize in South Carolina. Dean hasn't been just concentrating on the first few primaries, but the whole ball of wax.

I am reminded of a quote from the book The Tipping Point which talks about knowing what your goals are. A football coach who says he is taking his team to the superbowl next year is most likely the coach who does, and loses. Getting to the superbowl isn't the goal. Winning the superbowl is.

Winning New Hampsire, South Carolina, etc. isn't the goal. Winning the general election is. That requires building a broad base of support across the entire nation. That means visiting Idaho and New Mexico multiple times to let the people there know that they haven't been forgotten or are being taken for granted.

Dean's campaign is simply amazing. I cannot say enough positive things about it. I may have issues with the man, but so long as he stays within the paradigm of his campaign, I believe he will get an incredible mandate.

[helleborient]

6. This is very true of what seems to be the approach in Illinois...

We're courted as important for 3 reasons:

1) Winning the March primary - and a big fundraiser is scheduled for the first week in December in Chicago (7,000 mailers went out...$50 minimum donation for 2 bands and Gov. Dean)

2) People power to work in Iowa.

3) Money for the national campaign.


Winning Illinois won't be hard for a Democrat in November, but we are important to be able to go and work in neighboring states. I wouldn't even completely concede Indiana for next November.

[LuminousX]

7. Concede nothing

What is the most Republican state in the union? We need to set up an outpost in the most Republican districts in that state and begin an outreach program. There is one Democrat in that country who would be thrilled and thrice motivated to elect Democratic candidates, hell, maybe even motivated enough to run for a local office.

[Hawkeye-X]

15. I'm looking at Idaho

as the most Republican state of the Union.

No Democrats exists (except for a few choice ones)

Hawkeye-X

[helleborient]

18. And Dean has gone to Idaho multiple times, too...

He's looking for a mandate!

[jiacinto]

5. Richardson is aiming for a VP spot

that's my reading of that.

[Hawkeye-X]

16. Except that Richardson

already said that he's remaining as governor a few months ago, not looking into VP as of yet.

Hawkeye-X

[eissa]

8. I'm beginning to worry about Howard

The man is all over the country! When does he rest?! He's here, he's there, he's everywhere! He's super-Dean to the rescue!

[LuminousX]

9. Do you think he'll take entire month vacations when he is in office?

He definately isn't lazy. He is dynamic. He is an old style politician in that he knows he has to shake hands and talk with people to really secure their votes. He is using new tools to make doing that easier.

Best of both worlds. Adaptive. Pragmatic. Damn, I better slip back into my cynical mode soon or else I may end up actually caring who wins the Democratic nomination.

[eissa]

10. Resistence is futile!

Come on over and have some kool-aid :evilgrin:

[KaraokeKarlton]

12. No way he'd take that kind of vacation

He won't even rest after winning the nomination. He'll go at Bush full force the entire time. Dean runs a full court press, aggressive race all the way through. He fights his battles for policies he wants the same way, too. No matter how opposed to something those Washington Insiders may be...Dean will not let up a second and will eventually wear them down. He's a fighter through and through.

[slinkerwink]

14. nah, Dean's never going to take month-long vacations,

after all, look at what he's done on the campaign trail! He, by my estimates, has had about a two week's worth of rest in the eight month he's been out on the trail. I don't think he lets a day go by without doing something.

[Upfront]

20. Ro Bo Man

= Howard Dean. The man is on fire.

[KaraokeKarlton]

11. This is just how he campaigns

and it's also why nobody stands a snowball's chance in hell of catching him. He won't slow down for a minute. He does nothing half-assed. When he makes a decision to go after something, he puts everything he has into it. While everyone else has been "pacing themselves" he's been sprinting to get ahead. When the others start sprinting to try to catch up Dean will break out into a mad dash for the finish line, never looking back at those eating his dust.

[LuminousX]

13. The other side

He also knows when he is beat. He doesn't pursue dead issues. I can't remember the issue in Vermont, but one of the Democrats in the Vermont legislature was upset at Dean for just dropping an issue they had been fighting for. It was supposed to be a negative comment on Dean, but I saw it as a positive, part of the pragmatic politician. Actually also part of his frugal nature. Why burn political capital on an issue that isn't going to go anywhere?

I wish I could remember the issue and where I read it at.

[KaraokeKarlton]

21. Yes, he is very, very frugal

It's hard to say what the issue is. It could be any number of things. Dean isn't one to waste time arguing over something he knows he can't sell. Everything he proposes or calls for, he is relatively certain he can get passed. This is part of why he's always been very good at getting a lot done. He doesn't waste time and energy on fruitless endeavors. He also has great long term vision. He will often have his eye on a certain long term goal that he wants to work towards and instead of pushing for all or nothing he will very wisely work on smaller, incremental steps towards the ultimate goal. This makes people more comfortable with new policies a baby step at a time and helps open them up to a little bigger step next time. He's a visionary in many ways. I wish I knew which issue you were talking about because I could probably shed some light on it for you. Vermont politics are very complicated. Local politics are very big and lots of people get involved. Anyone who can last as long as Dean did here has something really special, unique and good about them because Vermonters are not easy sells. We are very demanding of our politicians.