Top Aides: Dean Prepared to Abandon Race

[mouse7]

Top Aides: Dean Prepared to Abandon Race
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

WASHINGTON - Howard Dean (news - web sites) is preparing to abandon his race for the Democratic presidential nomination if he loses Wisconsin's primary, several advisers said Sunday, despite the candidate's assertions to the contrary.

Steve Grossman, national chairman of Dean's campaign, said the former Vermont governor will seek to convert his grass-roots network into a movement that helps expand the party and elect the Democratic nominee — "and, obviously, that looks likely to be John Kerry (news - web sites)."..."

"... "I believe that work will effectively be in concert with ... and fairly supportive of John Kerry, should he become the nominee, and it appears he will," Grossman said.


Other top advisers said they had doubts whether Dean would ever work directly on Kerry's behalf this year. They are discussing ways to use Dean's network to help elect Democrats to Congress who would support Kerry's agenda as president, several officials said. Scores of campaigns aides were making plans to leave their jobs after Tuesday...."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040215/ap_on_el_pr/dean_21

Looks like Dean will go out and help Congressional Candidates. It's pretty obvious Dean isn't too crazy about Kerry, but this is an excellent and mature way to deal with that situation.

Dean changed the 2004 race and the Party. I wish him luck with his drive to get more Democrats elected to Congress, and hope we continue to hear much in the future from Gov. Dean.

[Goldberg]

1. See...even Dean would vote for Kerry.

[Fovea]

2. He could always support Dennis.

He is a fine match for Dean's agenda.
Maybe a little less centrist than Dean, but closer to
what makes Dean an energizing factor.

I think it would give a spur to
the correct policy directions.

[eileen_d]

3. That would make a lot of sense.

I wonder what Dean's opinion of Kucinich is, anyway? If he has one - from what I've seen Dean has ignored DK's existence.

[Kahuna]

9. Hi Eileen! Glad you reconsidered..

leaving GD2004, :7

:pals:

[eileen_d]

10. Thanks Kahuna

I thought I was actually going to get my last warning... but I didn't... so I guess I'll continue my quest :hi:

[diamondsoul]

5. Not only that, but

healing the rift between Kucinich and Dean voters could easily propel Dean and Kucinich's policies into the lead over Kerry. Seriously, if we joined forces, Dean and Kucinich supporters, Kerry would have a serious threat in the race now.

[pscot]

4. Not much choice, really

I hope he's gracious about it. We need to move on.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. It would be great if he focused on doing no harm in the general

and working on congress. That is a HUGE task and one where he can help with pockets of voters.

[schultzee]

7. I wish he would run for the Senate!

[Dinger]

8. It's Really A Shame More People Didn't Have A Say . . .

in who the Democratic nominee would be.
Is this democracy?

[MaineDem]

16. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[democratreformed]

25. Hi Dinger!

Are you from Democrats.com? It's me - bklady.

I haven't completely come to grips with all my feeling yet, have you?
I am feeling the loss of democracy as well.

[maddezmom]

11. updated: Aides Want Dean to Quit if He Loses Wis.

Looks like it's not Dean but his aides that are urging he drop out.


_________________________________

WASHINGTON - Howard Dean (news - web sites)'s top aides are urging him to abandon the Democratic presidential race if he loses Wisconsin's primary, officials said Sunday, and they're all but certain he will follow their advice.

Steve Grossman, national chairman of Dean's campaign, said the former Vermont governor would seek to convert his grass-roots network into a movement that helps expand the party and elect the Democratic nominee — "and, obviously, that looks likely to be John Kerry (news - web sites)."


Several other senior campaign officials said Dean would likely bow to intense pressure from his own advisers to give up his bid for the presidency, though they disagreed with Grossman over how much — if any — direct help Dean would be willing to give Kerry.

~snip~
more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=2043&e=5&u=/ap/20040215/ap_on_el_pr/dean

[Tinoire]

12. What's with these "aides"? It's the same stunt they pulled on Clark

who more willingly gave in than I hope Dean is going to.

[maddezmom]

20. looking for jobs

:shrug: It would be nice if they allowed the candidates to make their own statements on leaving or staying in the race.

[Tinoire]

24. It's so... repulsive. I'm frankly appalled.

Makes me really wonder about their sincerity.

What a horrible week for us all.

[Zynx]

13. Dean would never declare that he is going to drop out.

Candidates simply don't do that in advance of a vote.

[stickdog]

14. Big money aides will be dropping Dean. Who cares?

What good did they do him, anyway?

[eileen_d]

15. never mind

nothing to see here

[MurikanDemocrat]

17. This is enough for me

But Dean would quit attacking Kerry, the chairman said.

"Should he not win Wisconsin, you will see a meaningful shift in rhetoric, a meaningful shift in tone and a meaningful shift in the time he spends" building his campaign base into a long-term movement," Grossman said.

This would go a long way to improve my opinion of Howard Dean. Start working for the Party instead of against the Party and the nominee apparent.

A movement to work within the Party to effect reform would be a winning cause.

[mzmolly]

18. When Kerry attacked Dean did you feel he was working *against* the party?

:eyes:

Anyhow the movement will continue regardless... :hi:

[eileen_d]

21. When Kerry attacked Dean, he attacked Dean only.

I didn't like when Kerry's campaign seemed to focus on that, and that is when I shifted my allegiances to Clark, BTW.

When Dean attacked Kerry, he generally made the scope of his attacks broader to include the Democratic Party (or at least those currently leading it). Dean has a perfect right to make his case against the Democratic Party establishment, but he shouldn't be surprised if the Democratic Party establishment gets a little ticked off in response.

I hope Dean starts getting more press for promoting a vision of what the Democratic Party can do right, rather than railing against what it's doing wrong.

[mzmolly]

19. I hope he'll stay through super Tuesday at the very least...

We'll see.

[edzontar]

22. I am sure both he and his aides are being pressured and threatened

Just like his supporters have been in recent days.

The media, the DLC, the DNC, and the forces of coprorate power, aligned with the campaigns of the other "not-really-opposition candidates", are piling on Dean to get this thing locked up for Kerry BEFORE super-Tuesday.


This is not democracy, it is autocracy.

[madfloridian]

23. This is not democracy.

The party is deciding our votes for us.