Dean says he will support the Democrat who wins the nomination...

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0308/04/lkl.00.html

<snip>CALLER: Hi. Governor Dean, I have been so impressed by you ever since I saw you on "Meet the Press." And I'm going to my first Dean meeting this week. And my question for you is that many Democrats believe that if not for Ralph Nader staying in the election that we wouldn't have George Bush as a president.

So my question to you is, if you do not get the Democratic nomination, will you still run on the independent ticket?

DEAN: No, I will not.

CALLER: If so, how will that impact the upcoming race?

DEAN: I will not run as independent. I will support the nominee. It is essential that George Bush not be re-elected for the future of this country. It is essential for our economy. It's essential, so we can regain the respect we had around the world. And I will under no circumstances run as a third party and independent. I will back the nominee. I hope I am the nominee because I can bring about half those votes that voted for Ralph Nader back into the party. That's how we are going to win. And I think at this point there is no other evidence that any of the other candidates can do that and I think that's why I'm the most likely to beat George Bush.

[TSIAS]

1. Not much of a surprise

I never thought he'd run as an independent.

[not systems]

2. great answers

This is why I support Dean.

Remember that he has made this statement, I sure
hope the others take the same stand and stand with
Dean against Bush.

Go Dean Go...

[MattNC]

4. i'm sure they will

no reason not to think otherwise

[arcos]

3. After this...

I hope no one EVER posts another thread titled "Will Howard Dean support whoever gets the nomination??" or "Will Howard Dean run as an independent??"

[Syrinx]

5. Dean's my man for now!

I'll reevaluate if Clark or Gore get in. I like Graham too, but doesn't look like he's getting any traction yet.

[JackSwift]

6. The standard answer to this question

is that "I will be the nominee". But I like how he has dealt with it.

[AngryYoungMan]

7. What a relief...

A candidate attacking Bush!!

What a twisted world we live in, where the opposition party cannot be counted upon to oppose the incumbent!

I didn't realize how badly I wanted to hear stuff like this until Dean started talking.

If George Bush put a gun to Lieberman's wife's head and threatened to pull the trigger, Lieberman would say, "I applaud what you're doing, but I might urge slightly greater restraint."

[Bombtrack]

8. So when Lieberman disses Dean

he's satan.

Good thing Dean never attacked the other candidates, oh wait

Even though Leiberman is a chill for the insurance companies, a Chuch and State bluring demagogogue, and a benefactor of the same contractors supporting the GOP, I actually have less contempt for him than Dean after seeing the good doctor on Larry King.

Hopefully democrats will catch on quicker than republicans of how unelectable Dean is, although I'm pretty confident that the right is helping Dean in whatever way they can.

[Syrinx]

9. What did Dean say on Larry? (sounds dirty)

That makes you have contempt for him?

[AngryYoungMan]

10. I don't understand your position.

Dean has

1) taken remarkable strides in terms of visibility, name-recognition, fundraising
2) directly attacked Bush
3) loudly opposed the war and the tax cuts
4) raised his money through grass-roots internet campaigns
5) endured the constant contempt of the DLC

My point is that he's ATTACKING THE PRESIDENT. Don't you want your candidate to do that?

I heard Lieberman's attack on Dean on Larry King. He said that Dean's weakness as a candidate was that he opposed the war and the tax cut.

Are you in favor of the war? Are you in favor of the tax cut?

If not, then why are you taking the position you're taking?

[Frances]

11. Now I see why so many people are for Dean

He was great. And did you hear those callers?

When you contrast Dean's answers to questions with Bush's answers to questions, it's like contrasting the words of an intelligent, well-educated adult with the words of a five-year-old.

I know that Bush has tons of money and the television will have nothing but negative ads and negative news stories about Dean, but I wonder if all that money will be enough.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

12. All the Dem candidates

should run ads that include clips of Bush speaking without prepared remarks. That should do it. :)

[Andromeda]

15. Money alone...

has never elected anybody.

A good example of that is when Huffington(R), Arianna's ex, ran for governor of California. He spent millions---much more than the other candidates---and he still lost.

[Andromeda]

13. Dean's statement just shows...

that he is humble and considerably more gracious about the other eight candidates than some of them have been about him, namely, Joe Lieberman.

It's all part of the game of politics when candidates bash each other but I believe most of the bashing should be reserved for Bush and not our fellow Democrats.

I haven't heard any of the other Democrats say that they will support whomever the candidate may be. It doesn't mean they haven't said it, I just meant that I haven't heard it.

[Robin Hood]

14. Proving that he at least is smarter than Ralph Nader.

[sleepystudent]

16. that's nice, but...

Howard Dean is one person. I am more worried about his many supporters(not all, obviously) who SEEM to be willing to abandon the process and not help out if (IF) Dean doesn't get the nomination. Howard Dean knows what's at stake and what needs to be done-I am not so sure about some of the supporters.

And no, I am not anti-Dean, parroting Rove points, a troll, a freeper, a disruptor, or all those classic code words that are used to kill disagreement on this site. I am just really worried.

[JohnKleeb]

17. actually many Deanies are ABB

Anyone But Bush, they know they are supporting a centrist, that is I hope they do. I am ABB.

[acerbic]

18. Like for example who?

I am more worried about his many supporters(not all, obviously) who SEEM to be willing to abandon the process and not help out if (IF) Dean doesn't get the nomination.

Show even one. Otherwise it's more points to Dean again in the category "whose supporters lie and slander the least"...

[JohnKleeb]

19. Most if not all of us are ABB including me a Kucinich supporter