What happens to Dean if he places second in NH?

[ringmastery]

He still has lots of money, but where would he win afterward? Does he have to win to remain viable? Would second be the kiss of death?

[arewethereyet]

1. he must win

and convincingly to retake the democratic end of the democratic party

[mmonk]

2. They will say

he's losing support but has enough money and campaign support to continue.

[sangha]

He'll be super-sizing your lunch

if he doesn't take NH

[ShaneGR]

3. He's finished... and he doesn't have that much money.

He'll get massacred in the south by Edwards and/or Clark.

The Dean camp spent a fortune in Iowa, while they're not close to broke they no longer have a commanding money lead.

It's do or die time next week, his troops desperately need a boost.

[rbrussell]

6. No, Not at All

I think that Dean made clear yesterday that he was going to wage a national campaign. The primaries move so quickly this year that we can afford to lose in New Hampshire.

The real targets are the states that he rattled off- New York, California, etc.

This isn't going to be over quick.

[LuminousX]

4. Nothing. A 2nd place finish would be pretty good.

[jsw_81]

12. A second-place finish would be devastating

Dean's entire strategy hinges on a big win in New Hampshire.

[kentuck]

5. He's still in the race....

But he would have to win somewhere in the next primary afterwards.

[Jackson Smith]

7. Depends on who wins NH. If Kerry wins NH, Dean is DONE.

If it's a dark horse like Clark or Lieberman, Dean could still be viable. Kerry winning both Iowa and NH would be the end of the Dean campaign I'd think.

[funky_bug]

8. Depends on who he beats out

If he slams the coffin on Clark or Edwards, then he's taken a strong second. If he slams the coffin on Dean, then he's going to emerge as a very viable candidate against Bush. But if Dean slams the coffin on Kerry, then the game is on, and IA goes *poof*.

[David__77]

9. I think he can win CA, that's all I know.

It's winner take all here, and it's one-fourth the needed delegates. I'll be working for him. It's entirely possible to have him be the nominee even without a majority of the delegates. There's no reason not to vote one's conscienice in this race.

[The Magistrate]

10. If Gov. Dean Does Not Win New Hampshire, He Is Through

Even if he wins there, it will be greatly devalued in analysis, because he is a local figure, and he will get only a short lease on life by it. He will not do well in the next, multi-state round of primaries, featuring southern and south-western states, and will not last credibly beyond them. It will probably take him a little longer to admit it.

[jsw_81]

11. He'll go home to Vermont

There is no way he will survive a second-place finish in New Hampshire.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

13. I Think He'll Be OK If He Takes Second in NH

He's only out if he takes third or worse.

Taking first, however, would re-establish him as a credible threat.

DTH

[knight_of_the_star]

14. Depends on who beats him

If either Kerry or Clark beat him, then put a fork in him he's DONE. If Kerry wins then considering how Kerry fells towards the back of the pack up until yesterday then he will shut Dean down. If Clark does that will hurt just as much considering that NH is Dean's backyard, he's been saying he will nab the state, and that will hurt him, though not as much as if it was Kerry, but it will put those two men in the front and center of the race.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. A close second would be a minor setback.

A distant second a bit worse.