Jackson helps Dean in South Carolina

[Freddie Stubbs]

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- With a pastor on one side and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. on the other, Howard Dean clapped his hands and swayed at the altar of the Christian Methodist Episcopal church Sunday, confidently singing over and over again, "We can work it out!"

The refrain of the gospel hymn served as a metaphor for the state of Dean's presidential campaign here.

For the former Vermont governor, like all of the candidates, the path to the presidential nomination runs through South Carolina and its Feb. 3 primary. He has surged elsewhere with relative ease, but the path here has been bumpy for Dean, who still finds himself apologizing for what he characterized as a clumsy remark last month about the Confederate flag.

It is in South Carolina, his Democratic rivals believe, where Dean's rise is most likely to be stopped. If Dean wins the opening contests in Iowa and New Hampshire but is slowed here and in Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico, which hold contests on the same day, a new front-runner could emerge.

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0312080163dec08,1,5661319.story

[returnable]

1. Very interesting quote...

...from the article:

"While the address was billed as a major speech on race, only a handful of the audience members were black. The pre-printed signs, 'African-Americans for Dean,' were held by white supporters."

[Jerseycoa]

2. I stopped at that one, too (eom)

[helleborient]

3. So let me see if I get this...

When Dean says he's proud that he's a candidate who talks about race to white or predominantly white audiences...other candidates rush to say "We do, too!"

But there is something still wrong with Dean talking about race to primarily white audiences...???

[returnable]

4. Nothing wrong...

...with speaking about race to predominantly white audiences.

But as the article stated, a BIG part of having Jackson Jr. stump for Dean in SC was that it'd presumably raise Dean's profile in the African-American community, which represents about 50% of the Democratic electorate there.

And as the article indicates, Dean still has a long ways to go to reach that audience.

[helleborient]

5. I agree...which is why he is working hard...

It seems abundantly clear that African-Americans aren't united behind any candidate...so they look like very important voters to specifically address in the primaries.

[returnable]

9. Absolutely...

...I was just struck by the irony of white supporters holding "African-Americans for Dean" signs.

The campaign may wanna think twice about who it distributes those pre-made signs to.

[Jerseycoa]

6. No there isn't

I'm glad Dean is having a national discussion on race and I have said so before. I took this venue to be a black church and it was surprising to me that African Americans for Dean would be represented by white supporters, that's all. So it was a white church, okay, no problem.

[helleborient]

7. Christian Methodist Episcopal is a predominantly black denomination (n/t)

[Jerseycoa]

10. Confusion on church

I misunderstood:

"But there is something still wrong with Dean talking about race to primarily white audiences...???"

Okay, it was a black church and that's good, too.

Again, I'm glad he talks to people, any people at all, no matter what color, about race in America, but particularly glad he frames that discussion in terms of economics, health, etc. "There are no black concerns or white concerns. There are only human concerns."

Still, it is surprising to me (and I imagine to any reader of these reports) that the Dean supporters carrying the "African-Americans for Dean" signs in a black church were not themselves African-American.

Commenting and questioning something perplexing is healthy, no?

[helleborient]

12. Yes, forgive me, but there is still plenty of stuff here at DU...

On the order of Dean supporters being blind, worshipping cultists or too stupid to understand the policy pronouncements of other candidates, etc....the skin hasn't thickened yet this week.

[Rose Siding]

14. The speech was given at a hotel

Dean attended the black church in the morning then gave the speech in the afternoon (as opposed to during Edwards' "Sunday church hour")

The campaign signs wouldn't have been at the church service, I don't imagine, but at the hotel speech later.

[helleborient]

15. Thank you, I thought the article was confusing on that...

And come to think of it, it would be very unusual for a church to allow supporters to hold signs during a service.

[tsipple]

8. Yeah, You Can't Talk Race to White Audiences (?)

Good grief our press is incompetent, isn't it?

By the way, if Dean's rivals are pinning their hopes on South Carolina, a state Dean now narrowly (within the margin of error) leads in the polls, that's pretty cold comfort.

I would honestly advise them to try to figure out how to stop Bush, not Dean. Then they just might get some attention for the Democratic nomination. So far, Dean is convincing voters that he's the guy to take on Bush, and he is showing voters his positive vision for where he'd take the country.

Yes, it's tough to do well, but the principles are not rocket science. All the Democratic candidates would do well to learn.

[Jerseycoa]

11. I respectfully submit to you

That this is a forum for discussion about politics and political campaigns. I would advise you to stop trying to muzzle people who have questions. It may be news to you, but a whole lot of people are not convinced Howard Dean is "the guy to take on Bush" and until they (we) are, there will be debate over it; not rocket science, just politics.

Is there a new poll or are you talking about this Zogby Poll, December 2-4, N 500, MOE 4.5?

If this is the poll you mean, six candidates are within the MOE, any of them could be in the lead in SC.

Dean has gone up 2% and Clark has gone up 7%. Cold comfort indeed.

Let Dean move ahead of the pack and I'll call him "leading," with you.

Meanwhhile, Undecided is leading in South Carolina.

Dean: 11% (9% in Sept/ 4% in July)
Lieberman: 9% (8% in Sept and 13% in July)
Clark: 9% (2% in Sept)
Edwards 7% (10% in Sept, 5% in July)
Sharpton 7% (5% in Sept, 8% in July)
Gephardt 7% (4% in Sept, 8% in July)
Kerry 4% (8% in Sept, 5% in July)
Braun 3% (1% in Sept, 3% in July)
Kucinich 0.3%
Someone else: 5%
Not Sure 37%

[helleborient]

13. This poll is in the face of Dean having a "Southern problem"...

Or so that was the cry of those who don't support Dean a few weeks ago.

To me, it looks like Dean has no visible Southern problem at all...the official Dean headquarters in S.C. just opened this past weekend.

I'm not attempting to muzzle anyone...but I do take objection to cheap shots when they come our way.

[Jerseycoa]

16. This is getting funny

Abbott and Costello funny. I was replying to tsipple post #8.

I don't see Dean having a Southern problem. I think he will appeal to people as he does everywhere else. Another candidate might have more appeal or may not. We'll have to see how it plays out.

Peace.

[dogman]

17. Wrong Jackson

I found it strange that when Jr. first announced his support for Dean that Dean spent the next day qouting Sr. He knows there different people doesn't he?