Dean, Kerry, and Gary Hart.

[poskonig]

While I haven't seen any hard evidence, Dean's presence in the race suggests Kerry may have a bimbo problem. As Russert put it, "you can't recover the fumble if you're not on the field."

Are there other reasons why Dean is attacking the probable nominee along with the weight of the Republican smear machine? I'm not sure how a candidate could recover from Sharpton-like negatives, but if Kerry has something in his past that could "Gary Hart" him, the intern story would be it.

Is this interpretation plausible?

[Dookus]

1. so your theory

is that Dean, who hasn't won a single primary despite 40 million dollars and two years of campaigning is just waiting in the wings for a possible bimbo eruption?

Well the man's tenacious, I'll give him that.

[aldian159]

2. perhaps dean thinks he cold win

without the intern story, if it is one.

He's right in that 20% of the delegates have been chosen.

However, the Dean argument that "only X% have been chosen" becomes more and more ridiculous as X gets closer to 100.

[lancdem]

3. I don't think that's why Dean is still in

[KittyWampus]

4. Intern Story? Some Reporter Who Never Went To Work For Kerry?

The story is she got called about a job and declined.

So there is no story.

Why even talk about it in relation to anything?

I don't understand.

[janx]

5. "Dean's presence in the race suggests Kerry has a bimbo problem"

?

Can you elucidate or explain, please? I don't understand this logic. I also don't understand where you get the connection between Dean and the Republican smear machine.

[Kahuna]

6. Capital Gang's Novak said it was nonsense. He said...

the repukes should attack Kerry on the issues and not on contived crap like the alleged affair.

[arewethereyet]

7. it was a roll of the dice for Dean

the attacks were nothing new but if the press could pop the bimbo story in time for Super Tuesday he still had a chance.

I expect there is some truth in the matter but obtaining the proof may prove too difficult to help him.

[JI7]

8. wouldn't Edwards be the one to benefit ?

if it is all true and kerry was brought down because of it, wouldn't the one who ends up benefiting the most be John Edwards ? i don't see how even if this is true it could help dean.

[MurikanDemocrat]

9. Two problems with your interpretation

First of all, there is no story. It failed. It has already blown over.

Second, Dean is not the one who would benefit from a Kerry downfall. Edwards would be the beneficiary.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

10. And.....

You KNOW this how?

[MurikanDemocrat]

13. Because I'm paying attention to FACTS

The story didn't take off. No mainstream news source will touch it. Only GOP smear sources. Kerry categorically denies it. The girl's parents concede there was never an affair. There is no proof it ever happened. The only people giving it ANY attention AT ALL are those who seek to prop up their own candidate's failing campaign's.

If Kerry were to drop out, the likely beneficiary would be Edwards. He has actually won a primary. Dean has not. Dean is also losing endorsements right and left. Edwards is not. Dean also made the WI race next week his make or break race to either win or get out. He's now polling a very distant 3rd.

In addition, Dean is under pressure from Gore to get out of the race after WI - perhaps he is about to lose Gore's endorsement as well. Dean is also under Party pressure to bow out. His divisive tactics are hurting the Party. The goal of this election is to unseat Bush, not to attack the Party and the candidate with the best chance of doing that. Dean has an agenda that conflicts with the best interests of the Democratic Party and aids the opponent.

That's how I know.

[Sensitivity]

11. Isn't this stuff against the rules? Inflamatory or something. Source?

[LizW]

12. I object to the term "bimbo"

Even if no part of this story is true, in fact, ESPECIALLY if it's untrue, the young woman has a name, and I think it's rude to use the term bimbo when discussing this rumor. Just thought I'd say.

And another thing, Dean is hardly "attacking" Kerry "along with the weight of the Republican smear machine". That's a specious accusation against Dean. Dean has criticised Kerry's record. He has questioned where his funding comes from. He has drawn contrasts between Kerry's positions and his own. He has questioned Kerry's support some of Bush's* agenda. He has never attacked Kerry on the basis of character as it relates to marital fidelity, as your post seems to imply.