Howard Dean Surges with Internet Support (Lycos Top 50)

[Khephra]

Howard Dean Surges with Internet Support



July 9, 2003

When we first looked at searches for the Democratic candidates for the 2004 presidential election, Massachusetts senator John Kerry was leading the pack. Three months later, Vermont governor Howard Dean has surged ahead and left his competition in the dust when it comes to online popularity.

Dean's campaign is based on building his base through the Internet, with a website devoted to streaming video of his speeches and events and a focus on online fundraising. In one day last month, the Dean campaign raised $802,083 on the Internet from more than 11,000 people, including more than 9,000 donors new to the campaign.

snip........

It seems that Dean's insurgent candidacy reached a tipping point two weeks ago. Countless stories about Dean's devoted supporters and higher-than-expected fundraising finally drove interested voters to the Web to find out more about the man, and how they could help his campaign. Dean had passed John Kerry by mid-June, but over the past two weeks Dean searches are up 250 percent.

snip.........

1) Gov. Howard Dean
2) Sen. John Kerry
3) Gen. Wesley Clark
4) Sen. John Edwards
5) Rep. Dennis Kucinich
6) Sen. Bob Graham
7) Rev. Al Sharpton
8) Sen. Joe Lieberman
9) Rep. Dick Gephardt
10) Sen. Carol Mosley Braun



MORE.....................

http://50.lycos.com/

[LeftCoast]

1. I love the internet

[realFedUp]

2. Interesting column on front-loading by Ron Brownstein

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-insurgent9jul09,1,6139434.story

Dean Tries to Beat the Odds Against Outsiders
Latest insurgent bid for the presidency shakes up Democrats. Rules favor insiders.
By Ronald Brownstein
Times Staff Writer

July 9, 2003

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Still, Dean faces problems common to all insurgents, beginning with the acceleration of the primary calendar. When Carter won in 1976, half of the delegates to the convention weren't selected until 11 weeks after the first contest in New Hampshire, according to research by Northeastern University political scientist William G. Mayer.

Since then, both Democrats and Republicans have dramatically compressed the primary calendar. Next year, about two-thirds of the pledged delegates to the Democratic convention will be selected within six weeks of the first contest.

In some cases, that front-loading can help a little-known candidate. The momentum from an unexpectedly strong showing in Iowa or New Hampshire can produce a surge that propels an outsider everywhere else; such a wave almost carried Hart past the heavily favored Mondale in 1984.

But mostly, front-loading has benefited candidates with the most support from the party establishment — something analysts believe was a principal motivation for changing the rules. While Carter had time to raise money and build support after his initial success, the new calendar favors those candidates with the money, endorsements and interest group support to build nationwide organizations before voting begins.

"Front-loading hurts because of the cost and difficulty of running everywhere at once," Hart said.
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