If Dean is third or fourth next week in NH, what does he do?

[ringmastery]

I can easily see Kerry winning and Clark second with Dean third. Edwards may end up giving Dean a run for his money for third and Dean could come conceiveably in fourth.

He does have a lot of money though, so I guess he can keep going on no matter how he does in the primaries till the money dries up, right?

[jeter]

1. If Dean is 2nd - he should drop out

because he won't win anything.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

2. He won't drop out any time soon...

He's got money to burn... I'd say if he does drop out, it will be at LEAST after super tuesday.

[jeter]

4. He won't but should

If Dean finishes any lower than 1st in New Hampshire he won't have a pot to piss in. It'll be over.

The only thing he'll accomplish is dividing the party and electing Bush.

[flaminbats]

15. Dean is already out if he doesn't win New Hampshire...

no dropping out necessary!!

Dean's only chance to make a comeback is to win in New Hampshire. If Dean comes in second, he would be the underdog in a two-man contest for the nomination. If he came in third, then whoever comes in second will be the challenger to the winner. If Clark comes in second he would be the challenger of the winner in New Hampshire. If Clark comes in first, he shall be the frontrunner..and whoever comes in second will become the challenger.

[demdave]

3. It will make me nervous.

I never expected Gephart todrop tonight. I think next week would be too soon for Dean to make that kind of decision.

[Clark Can WIN]

5. I think we'll see Clark or Kerry on top and Edwards third

And then it will get REALLY interesting :)

[tritsofme]

6. Dean needs a strong 1st to stay viable

A close first or anything below will not be enough to sustain him, and all his early momentum will have subsided.

[jenk]

7. if Dean is 3rd he *barely* survives, if he is in 4th he is finished

and he might just finish 4th

Dean can't take on Kerry or Edwards in the Carolina's or Oklahoma.

[Castilleja]

8. He should continue on until....

he runs out of money and supporters, or until Nov. 2004. I do not think a less than first place showing should put the brakes on anything.

[clarknyc]

9. He should keep running.

[Seldona]

10. I think he should too.

And will.

He has passion. May turn some off. Not me though.

[goodhue]

11. he should keep on running until at least March 2

after all he has the money.
brokered convention is likely at which he could be player.

[fujiyama]

12. He keeps running...

Dean has probably one of the most amazing grass roots campaigns in recent history (this coming from a non Dean supporter). A less than first place showing in NH will not doom him, but definetely will make it much more difficult to retain the support and excitement he has (or had prior to Iowa).

Dean's still first in the polls in NY, MI, CA, and several other major states. The only question is how much momentum will Kerry and Edwards have in NH next week...and how much will Clark be hurt by Kerry's success in NH, and how much will he be hurt by Edwards in SC (today's win for Kerry and Edwards hurts Clark the most, possibly adding a lot of momentum to two competing figures in NH and SC).

My guess is Dean will stick around through Super Tuesday, unless he does horrible in MI, and several of the other primaries.

It definetely will get interesting in the next several days.

[davidinalameda]

13. I can't see Edwards having much momentum after NH

I think that will cool down his campaign. Kill it--no but definately put the brakes on it.


I like Edwards but he just doesn't have the experience. He's been in the Senate for one term. No other governmental experience before that.

People think the same thing about Clark, but he's been in public service the vast majority of his life. And you don't get to the level of the military that he did by not being good at the political game

[Kathleen04]

14. He shouldn't quit..

there are states on February 3rd that he has the potential to be strong in.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. No way is Dean gonna quit after NH no matter what the outcome.

But if he doesn't come in 1st or 2nd it could be the begining of the end.