Des Moines Register Op Ed (1/19): Organization will be key to victory

[cthrumatrix]

Yepsen: Organization will be key to victory
By DAVID YEPSEN
Register Political Columnist
01/19/2004
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If organization is as important as caucus lore tells us it is, Howard Dean should win the Iowa caucuses tonight. Driven by youthful energy and anti-war activism not seen since the Vietnam War, Dean has assembled what his organizers claim is the best get-out-the-vote operation ever built in the state.

They are probably correct. As the campaign draws to a close today, the important story isn't the candidates and their hoopla. It's their organizations and their boring grunt work on the streets and telephones of Iowa.

Given that recent polls of the race show the contest has tightened, Dean hopes his operation provides him with the political firewall he needs to protect himself against the late surges by John Kerry and John Edwards. A Dean win in Iowa tonight would be devastating to the early front-runner here, Dick Gephardt.

Tonight's results could also give a boost to Kerry in New Hampshire. The polls indicate he might be able to defeat Gephardt for second place in Iowa, and such a finish would boost Kerry handsomely in the Granite State, where he trails Dean and Wesley Clark. Polls also show John Edwards is close to Gephardt for third place. If that happens, Edwards would get the jolt he needs to make it through New Hampshire on his way to contests in the South, where he's considered more viable.


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http://desmoinesregister.com/opinion/stories/c5917686/23293251.html

[Padraig18]

1. A decent analysis.

Our campaign's organiztion ('firewall') is what I have always believed would lead us to victory in Iowa, and I still believe that today. :)

[Punkingal]

4. Hi, Padraig,

My husband, a former political operative, and current political director of his union, says Dean will win Iowa because of his organization. When the numbers are this close, it's the organization that counts. :thumbsup:

[Padraig18]

6. Hiyas, Punkingal! Long time, no see, darlin!

Yes, my brother is active in his union's political arm, too, and he thinks Dean will win Iowa for just the reason you state. Even though he supports Kerry, he thinks Dean will win Iowa comfortably, with Kerry a strong 2nd. :)

[cthrumatrix]

2. this is what it will take nationally to be shrub....very important.

[Padraig18]

3. Exactly!

We will have to 'dot the i's and cross the t's' if we are going to beat * in November; 2000 proved that simply running a better candidate who gets more votes is NOT enough.

[cthrumatrix]

5. I hope more people can realize this..... shrub has to be worried

[Tesha]

7. Perhaps. But will our votes be counted in November?

Or can Bush be sure that the fix is, once again, "in"?
Perhaps courtesy of Cheney's fishing buddy?

Tesha

[Padraig18]

8. I'll take to the street, if neccessary!

I'm Irish, and I by God know how to toss a brickbat and a Molotov Cocktail! :evilgrin:

[Lobo_13]

10. If that's the case

then it doesn't matter who we run.

But Dean's inherent grassroots organization is going to be the best postitioned to prevent overt acts of voter fraud.

[Tesha]

13. Of course it matters who we run.

> If that's the case then it doesn't matter who we run.

Of course it matters who we run. It's a lot easier to steal 50
votes than 500,000.

And "forewarned is forearmed" and Howard Dean, bless his
"angry" soul, has been speaking about Florida election fraud
during all of his recent stump speeches. If we can get the
idea into the popular currency that 2000 really was "suspicious",
people will be a lot more-ready to defend their voting rights
in 2004!

Tesha

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. I'll credit Dr. Dean for that, too!

I've watched a few of his speeched recently, and he keeps hammering away at the Florida Fraud; I wish ALL of the candidates would do the same in every speech they make. America NEEDS to remember!

:grr:

[rucky]

9. Anybody know how many "ground troops" each candidate brought with?

[Cuban_Liberal]

11. Dean brought 3500, in additon to those who were already there.

I don't know about the other campaigns.

[Lobo_13]

12. The only report I've heard

was that Edwards and Kerry have brought in 1/10th of what Dean brought in.