Dean Supporters -- Neel lays out the strategy ....2 man race/people decide

cthrumatrix

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Sat Jan-31-04 09:33 AM
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Dean Supporters -- Neel lays out the strategy ....2 man race/people decide

http://www.blogforamerica.com/
snip

Regardless of who takes first place in these states, we think that after Wisconsin we�ll get Kerry in the open field. Remember one crucial thing about the 2004 calendar�in previous years a front-runner or presumptive nominee would typically emerge after most of the states had voted and most of the delegates had been chosen. The final competitor to that candidate, even if he won late states, as many have done, has not been able to win a majority of delegates under any scenario.

This year is very different. The media and the party insiders will attempt to declare Kerry the winner on February 3 after fewer than 10% of the state delegates have been chosen. At that point Kerry himself will probably have claimed fewer than one third of the delegates he needs to win. They would like the campaign to be over before the voters of California, New York, Texas and nearly every other big state have spoken.

Democrats in Florida, who witnessed a perversion of democracy in November 2000, will not have a choice concerning the nominee if the media and the party insiders have their way.

We intend to make this campaign a choice. We alone of the remaining challengers to John Kerry are geared to the long haul�we�ve raised nearly $2 million in the week after Iowa, over $600,000 in the 48 hours since New Hampshire. No candidate�not even Kerry, who mortgaged his house and tapped his personal fortune to funnel $7 million into his campaign �will have sufficient funds to advertise in all, or even most, of the big states that fall on March 2 and beyond. At that point paid advertising becomes much less of a factor.

And we alone of the remaining challengers offer a clear choice to Kerry. Howard Dean is no Johnny Come Lately to the message of change�he has actually delivered change in Vermont. Howard Dean has the courage and conviction to stand up for what�s right, even when it�s not politically popular, as opposed to the cautiousness, compromise and convenience that has characterized John Kerry�s 19 years in the Senate.

We believe that when the voters of the post-Wisconsin states�which constitute 75% of the delegates that will be chosen in the states�compare Howard Dean and John Kerry, they will conclude that Dean, not Kerry, has the best chance to beat George Bush, because only Dean offers a clear vision of change and a record of results that contrasts against the rhetoric emanating from Washington. We believe they will increasingly reject the rubber stamp presented to them by the media.

Has such a strategy ever worked before?

No. It's never been tried.

But prior to this year, no candidate had ever raised $46 million dollars, mostly from ordinary Americans giving $100 each. Prior to this year no candidate for President had ever inspired the kind of grass-roots activity that has been this campaign�s hallmark. Prior to this year no candidate for President had so clearly revitalized his party, allowed it to reclaim its voice, and shifted the agenda so clearly to a call for change.

Let the conventional wisdom and the media declare this race over. We�re going to let the people decide.

Roy Neel
Chief Executive Officer
Dean for America