What does Dean do if he finishes fourth in NH?

[ringmastery]

Would he consider dropping? What would happen to all the money he has sitting in the bank? There's no way he would have much of a chance in the Feb 3rd states and beyond with a 4th place showing, especially since NH is right next door to Vermont.

[arewethereyet]

1. drive home and retire

he'll have plenty of money to retire with

[ACPS65]

2. Consider?

Howard, place 2nd or go home. :)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. What would any of the other candidates do?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Well, his campaign's got a lot of money

I don't see why he shouldn't continue on until he can't afford to anymore.... or until people start telling him to stop and help unite the party.
It will be tough because he is not used to losing.

[jeter]

6. NYfromMA

I don't think he could stay in. I guess technically he could. You're right he does have the money. But he won't win anything. It will just be an ego thing then.

If Clark finishes second in NH, then the race becomes Kerry v. Clark.

If Edwards finishes a strong third and/or does well (win) South Carolina he will have his ticket punched too.

Then the final three candidates will be:

1) John Kerry
2) Wesley Clark
3) John Edwards

I don't see how Joe Lieberman spins a fifth place finish in New Hampshire. He won't do much better in SC or anywhere else.

I don't see any room left for Howard Dean. Being labelled the front runner for all this time hasn't helped him. It makes his losses all the more easy to criticize.

Dean is done if he doesn't win in New Hampshire. If he comes in third again, he should pack up and go home there and then.

[AP]

9. If he finishes in 4th he better not have much money left.

He better spend it all to try to win or people are going to wonder why he was running.

Since the only things you can do with your money are: (1) give it back, (2) spend it on your race, (3) transfer it to another campaign, or (4) save it for a race later, there's a possibility that he has known he's not going to win, and he's raising money so that he can be a power broker in the party (option 3).

If he thinks his libertarian ideas should catch fire, he might use his money to support similarly minded candidates.

For example, Arianna Huffington LOVES Dean. No matter what quesion you ask her, Dean's the answer. Her politics are a little weird. If Dean gave her money, she could run and win a arace.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Damn good points

and frighteningly realistic!!!

[Egnever]

5. Goes on to the next state

We aint quiting anytime soon.

[Namvet04]

7. Neither Joe or even Clark can catch Dean

Edwards maybe will pass dean or NH voters could put Dean on top.

I would not rule dean out yet.

Clark is a much better case if Joe catches and passes him.

[Paragon]

8. You don't have anything better to do?

Seriously?

[mopinko]

11. really, agree with that

he has to stay in at least until super tuesday. sheesh.

[not systems]

26. I better get to vote for Dean in CA.

If the rest of the country wants someone else fine.

I'm looking forward to voting for Dean.

[Maddy McCall]

10. He would have to fold up and go home

because if he can't carry his neighboring state, he can't carry any others.

[shance]

12. Focus on 2008** We have the foundation, all we need to do is continue

doing what we are doing.

Media will continue to be bought by establishment who will invest in their destructive, marginalizing tactics towards those who have the vision to save the country and the planet. The Dean movement is so much larger and more inspiring than simply one election cycle.

I know that our media and those from both the Republican and Democratic sides are fearful of change that they think will hurt them. I even saw it with Dennis Kucinich in Iowa. When push comes to shove they all fall in line. What they dont seem to realize, is they are hurting themselves and ALL of us by indulging in a system that has been broken and existing on credit and borrowed time for a long time.

There is a movement focusing on leaving the destructive aspects of industrialization behind and moving forward with proactive and positive reconstruction, and we can see it dating all the way back to JFK, in which learning to be fair and implementing compassion truly were goals. Now, of course, with so many people on this planet, we are concerned with the overall balance of the earth.

Since that time, many in the establishment have wanted to kill off any semblance and breath of passion that ocurred, from Martin Luther King all the way up to Bill Clinton and more recently, Paul Wellstone. They have attacked every significant, committed leader we have had and as a result have bridled them successfully enough to keep them from being as strong and effective as they could be. Now with the help of media, they are trying to marginalize and intimidate Governor Dean and others as well who have the passion and the courage to address what is wrong with the system. It is our SYSTEM of governing that is now wrong and that has gone astray from the origin of truth given to us by our wise forefathers, who knew what it was like to be oppressed and suppressed. The otherwise good people who could have made even greater change, like both of the Clintons, seem tired, a little defeated and are playing by the rules that have been cruelly set upon them. Who wouldnt be, after what they have endured. And yet we can see the effects of constant attacks and shell shock. We may not see it on the exterior of individuals but the damage is still inflicted.

Im not sure those in Washington who are infiltrated in the system can save this country, because they, in my opinion, cant see the forest for the trees. None of us could if we were in their shoes. They have become too comfortable within the system.

With that said, any change of significance needs to be gradual. We Americans need to realize that we have been living high off the hog at other countries and nations' expenses. We can deal with it sooner and deal with what hardships we have incurred so far, or we can wait until like ashes, ashes, we all fall down.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. It is nice to see idealism, except when it is misguided and misdirected.

[shance]

22. Now Fean sweetie, you and I could go to town over what we believe

is misguided and misdirected, but I admire your passion and tenacity as well as you (hopefully*) admire mine.

You post some terrific posts, and you have definitely have inspired some important thought, and I think anyone trying to support the good of our USA is a rockin patriot***

AND I believe that you and I both want this nation to be the best it can be.

I WISH and I pray I could believe in the other candidates as much as I believe in Dean and his candidacy, but I need some accountability on some issues and legislation passed that has ultimately created unnecessary bloodshed. That is a BIGGIE for me.

Not to mention, I dont like the fact that Kerry told me to get over the 2000 election. I contributed $250 to his campaign. This conclusion does not come easily, but it comes from my gut instinct.

[PurityOfEssence]

24. You're saying that Kucinich is less steadfast and idealistic than Dean???

You're seriously saying that Dennis somehow wimped out and weaseled off on some kind of spineless political sell-out by his deal in Iowa, whereas Dean is so thoroughly principled that he is above any of that?

I absolutely dispute that. It's shocking how many people are of the opinion that Dean is some iron-willed uncompromising champion of something or other. He's very good at hammering others and claiming what he would have done in their shoes, but his own career is well punctuated with pragmatism.

The principal problem with the Dean phenomenon is this: the frustration of those who've felt betrayed by the seeming weakness of Democratic Legislators really believe that the one who makes a stink about it is any better. Dean is a centrist who won't cop to it. He's a pragmatist who's made his mark by attacking others. The thrill of the shrill is undeniable, but when people let themselves forgive repeated misrepresentations and flamboyant statements that have to be clarified, qualified or withdrawn, they are deluding themselves. It's great to hear the rancor, but the reckless incorrectness on a continual basis is overwhelming.

He suffers in many ways from this vantage: I don't buy the smile, I don't buy the guitar, I don't buy the Wyclef Jean, I don't buy the intimation that he'd have stood against the Patriot Act, I don't buy so much of it that it comes from every direction. The exciting nature of the electric performer is precisely what many don't want from a President.

It's mind-boggling how anyone can see Kucinich as some marshmallow and running-dog for the establishment when compared to this guy. It's truly alarming to see how many have this same belief. I remember when Kucinich confronted Dean with the group smear of his advertising and Dean couldn't even admit the undeniable.

At some point--a point long past, in my opinion--the verbal swashbuckling gets so erratic that the true beliefs of the candidate become moot: he's irritated so many and had his words questioned so many times that he's taking on water fast and foundering. He told the press to "get a life" when confronted on something recently; this is incomprehensible.

There are plenty of wild guys in cafes raging about things I completely agree with, but I'd never think of voting for them. (Of course, I'll support Dean like a true believer should he be nominated; Junior must go.)

[LBJBestEver]

14. Drive across the border to Vermont and have some pancakes,

along with a hot bath. I think he's done with politics at that point.

[mistertrickster]

15. What will you do if he finishes first?

nt

[shance]

17. Great question.

Although, forgive my alter-ego, but Ive watched the last 2 significant elections, and the media seems to "fortune tell" the polls about 36 to 48 hours before elections....(funny how no one seems to question all the surprise changes that happened in 2002 and that are now happening in 2004***is there not a similar pattern running here?)

this of course is why Im a firm believer in eliminating touchscreen voting.....

I hope you are correct, because I believe Dean has this nomination hands down...other than Clark.

[Capn Sunshine]

16. We have the money to go right up to the September Convention

So I imagine we will. NH is one 50th of the process, but has the distinction of being 1st. Well first actual VOTE which can't be monkeyed with like a caucus.

But I'm curious to see myself. It's not as if the movement will disappear if the press kills off our candidate's chances.

[Kathleen04]

18. Let's just wait and see.

We'll know in 4 days..

[Shanty Oilish]

20. Persist

I'd view retirement as wimping out, and I very much doubt Dean would do that. He has a deep connection with his supporters and he owes it to them to go the distance.
If he falters but stays in he could get the veep nomination. (Lol, I think Dr. Steinberg would be happier if he did.)

[buckeye1]

21. What a Question.

If he has the money he would be foolish to quit. NH means so little now. It has 30 something votes. Once NH was so early that it ment something much more than now. It will always be interesting because of its size and charactor.
Votes talk and B.S. walks. Thats how you win.

[isbister]

23. Depends on what his internal polls are telling him

I think he'd stay for one more round at least. The polls have them bunched up so much the 2,3,4 could only be a few points from each other

But, there's already signs that Iowa and these NH polls are influencing Kerry's upward movement in other states.

[Printer70]

25. I know what I would do

DeaniacsForNader.org

The DLC must be sent a message once and for all- respect progressives.

[not systems]

27. Yikes.

Things can still come together lets wait for
some more voting before tosting in the towel.