A Funny Thought on the "attack Dean to win the nomination" theory

[NashVegas]

a thread that started out of this article was locked in GD, and I'm not surprised, it did get nasty. BUT I'm posting here because it's worth a thought or two.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=106&ncid=742&e=3&u=/nypost/20031204/cm_nypost/goptriestoboostdeanbyburyinghim

GOP TRIES TO BOOST DEAN BY BURYING HIM
Thu Dec 4, 4:05 AM ET

Add Op/Ed - New York Post to My Yahoo!

By DEBORAH ORIN

HOWARD DEAN and Republicans share one big dream - to see Dean become the Democratic 2004 presidential nominee.
...
Antiwar, anti-Bush anger boosted Dean to the top of the Democratic pack and a pro-war Republican ad is sure to infuriate and energize Dean fans - and focus political debate on the very issue that helps Dean the most.

"It's very smart - every time they pick fights with Dean, it just serves to elevate him in the Democratic race," says a Republican strategist. "It's good for both of them. Both sides want a Dean-Bush race."

Why? Because polls suggest Dean would be pretty close to the weakest Dem against Bush and he offers the sharpest contrast in ideology and personal style.

So anyways, from this strategy, should we assume the RW sources are going to keep on attacking him, after he wins the nomination they expect he will (yes, I know that's an 'if,' but bear with me, okay?), or they'll back off?

I don't see them backing off, haha, but can't help but wonder: if they can attack him into the nomination, who's to say they can't attack him into the White House?

Just a thought.

[democratreformed]

1. LOL

And an interesting thought :).

[Jerseycoa]

2. If it weren't in the NY Post

I might think something of this, what I am not sure.

[blm]

3. Yup...that's what they're doing.

"Inevitability" card.

[polpilot]

13. Kerry wanted Dean 10 months ago..how'd that work out??? Feisty ain't he.

Dean '04...

[RevolutionStartsNow]

4. That's funny...

The more they attack, the closer he gets to the White House...

Gotta love it.

[Octafish]

5. Seems that way.

Won't be that way if he's the nominee. He's got a couple of bags that would sink better boats.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

7. As they say in footballl...

That's why they play the game...

[unfrigginreal]

6. This article is more for Orin's GOP readership

This was put out to try to allay some of the panic that would have ensued in the RW rank-and-file when they started attacking Dean this early. There is no way to spin that they are trying to help Dean if they are running these attacks in the first 2 primary states.

The GOP fears Dean, you could hear it in Gillespie's voice today when interviewed by Woodruff and Matthews.

[NashVegas]

11. Another Thought

That occured to me: all this stuff they're putting out, saying how the Clintons don't want to see Dean win the nomination, because they'll lose control of the party .. again, big if, but if he should win it, who's to say that those Republicans who aren't thrilled with Bush but would never say it out loud, because of how much they hated Bill & Hilary, won't view Dean as a viable option?

They are going to have to have some major aces up their sleeves in order to wipe out a thought they're already putting in people's minds (thanks, Bill Safire).

[AP]

8. Dean's got the bat up and raising money to respond to the attacks.

He'll spend the money attacking other Dems.

Ok, to be fair, I believe he says he's going to spend the money on ads to respond to those ads. But it's not like he doesn't have the money right now to respond to the ads. So, bottom line, Republicans attack Dean, treat it like his nomination is the foregone conclusion, and Dean raises more money.

Call me when the "neutral" media starts reporting on him accurately, and when they give some of the other candidates publicity.

[MercutioATC]

9. "He'll spend the money attacking other Dems." Like the anti-Bush ads

he ran in Texas with money from another online fundraiser? Of course the money all goes into one big pile, but I don't think you can criticize Dean for spending money solely to criticize other Dem candidates.

...by the way, where's the Dean page attacking Gephardt (like Gep has on his page attacking Dean)? Where is the Dean page advertising his support from former Kucinich supporters (like Kucinich has)? You want to talk about spending money to attack other Dems?

[KaraokeKarlton]

10. Putting the bat up sends a strong message to Bush and the DLC

It tells them that his support is strong enough to neutralize any attack made against him. This will lampoon any GOP confidence while also dispelling any Democratic concern that Dean can't handle what's sure to come if he's nominated.

[dajabr]

12. Please explain to me why...

If this was the strategy, why they would they publish their gameplan in a Murdoch rag (or anywhere for that matter)?

Why call attention to it and give the Dems a chance to spoil their master plan?

My conclusion is the only "plan" here is to cause confusion, increase infighting and second thoughts among those who would rally around a strong Dem Candidate.