The frontrunner dynamic. . .

[eileen from OH]

I don't post much, and I don't really associate names-of-posters with candidates (well,unless it's something like "ALSharp4ever") but in the few months I've been on DU I've noticed a cycle/dynamic. I've seen an overall trend, curve, whatever. (Disclaimer - this leave out the seeming constants - die-hard Dennis Kucinich supporters and a dislike for Joe Lieberman.)

At first a whole bunch of Dean supporters a-oh-wow-this-guy-is-great.
This was accompanied by a LOT of people who dismissed Kerry, Gephardt, & Edwards. If there were supporters out there, they were either really quiet or there weren't that many of 'em.

Then Clark got in and we had the War Between the Clarks and The Dean Supporters, which seemed to coincide with the beginning of Dean Hatred. Again, throughout all that - Kerry, Gephardt, & Edwards supporters were very few, or vewwy, vewwy quiet.

Then came Iowa and New Hampshire and now, all of a sudden there is a HUGE Kerry following.

What I want to know is - where are all the Kerry supporters coming from? We have people on here who post furious denials NOW regarding anything that questions his credentials or electability, after months of the same kind of thing being either tolerated, ignored, or agreed upon. Yeeps, he was generally ignored around here for months, and if he was criticized there were a few loyal supporters who rose to his defense. Now, however, all of a sudden, he's "The Man" and his defender/supporters are legion.

Have you guys just been laying low? Did you change your support? Did Iowa and New Hampshire make you want to back the perceived winner?

Has he changed or have you?

eileen "curious" in OH

[girl gone mad]

1. I've been curious about that myself..

a ton of Kerry supporters appeared overnight after IA and NH.

I know at least some of it can be attributed to people jumping on the bandwagon (and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way).

[chyjo]

2. For my part

I've been a Kerry supporter since before he announced his candidacy. I stopped posting here for a long while though because hearing all the Dean supporters' gloating became extremely obnoxious.

[mermaid]

3. Everyone Likes To Be On The Winning Team

I suspect a lot of the surge in Kerry supporters comes from his media-proclaimed status as front runner, all after one primary, and one Caucus that less the 3 percent of thr stste in question (Iowa) participated in.

I am a solid Dean supporter, and I refuse to give up. I will not compromise my allegiance to the Dean Campaign, just because we are now being led to believe we no longer are the front-runner.

If, however, Dean does not get the nomination, I am STILL firmly ABB, and will support the eventual nominee. I honestly do not like Kerry...I have personal reasons, which I'll go into at the bottom, for those interested, they can read the last paragraph...for those not interested, they can skip it. But even if it IS Kerry, I'll vote for him, because to vote for another, or to stay home is to concede power to Bush, and I will not do that. Even Kerry, mush as I personally dislike him, is better than Bush.

I suspect that many of the Kerry supporters started out in other camps, and are now jumping on the bandwagon of the supposed frontrunner. Again, everyone likes to be on the winning team. I am committed to my principls, and I am not giving up on Dean. And I know I am not alone.

I started out an Edwards supporter, and switched allegiance to Dean, because his anger attracted me. I, too, am an angry, pissed off liberal...pissed off at the rape and pillage our great country has suffered in the past three years under Bush. I am furious about the rape and loss of our Constitutional and civil rights that has occurrred under Bush.

I sensed this righteous anger and indignation in Dean, and it attracted me, and still does. I therefore support Dean to the bitter end...and WILL eventually support whoever the Dem. nominee is, because the one allegiance I have sbove snd beyond Dean is my allegiance to the ABB cause.

I'm hoping that everyone else on this Forum, and Democrats the country across will unite behind the ABB cause, regardless of who the nominee is. I know I will. Win or lose, I will speak up for taking our country back.

The mainstream meadia, meanwhile, with a vested financial interest in keeping the status quo, will do their best to paint Bush as unbeatable...and hopefully, enough Americans will be able to stand up for what they believe in, rather than follow the natural instinct and desire to jump on what appears to be the winning horse.

NOW, pmy personal reason for my dislike of Kerry, for interested parties.
I am a transgendered person, male-to-female, post-op for almost a year and a half now. Kerry refused to support a transgender-inclusive ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) and, therefore, has earned my extreme dislike. Dean, on the other hand, has repeatedly shown, through his record, and his words, that he supports civil rights for ALL...not just for some. Kerry still has shown me no indication that he plans to fight also for the rights, the civil rights, and dignities of transgender Americans, and thus, he will not be getting my support in the primaries. If he does become the nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for him, only because I know the alternative (Bush) would be worse...but not because I truly support Kerry. My vote would not be a vote for Kerry...or a vote for Democrats...but rather, my vote, in such a scenario, will be a vote AGAINST Bush.

[eileen from OH]

4. Thanks mermaid

for your honest and obviously well-thought out reflections.

eileen from OH

[mermaid]

7. You're Quite Welcome

I truly fear the dynamic that so many people seem to abandon their convictions so quickly, in order to be on the winning horse. This scares the crap outta me with regards to the ABB goal, because those who might otherwise vote for our guy may end up voting for Bush, just because the media will do their level best to paint hm as the winner, because that is who THEY want to win.

This is called creating a demagogue. And I fear it.

In this respect, I truly admire and respect the Kucinich supporters. In on way, they scare the hell out of me, I'm afraid they are SO committed to their guy that they may go Green or stay home, because, let's face it...bad as it hurts, folks, Kucinich will not be the nominee. On the other hand, they really stick to their convictions, and I respect this, even while it drives me, as a Dean supporter, absolutely crazy!

And no offense is intended to Kucinich supporters by my words...in fact, you guys have a wierd mix of emotion from me...fear mixed with admiration. You guys go on fighting what is obviously a losing battle...and I'm fearful y'all may not jump on the ABB wagon.

I am, as I stated, a very committed Dean supporter...but the NBD crowd irritates me, too. As strong as our convictions may be for our guys in the primaries...we GOTTA come together once we have a nominee...or we are doomed to four more years of Bush. We can hang together, or we shall all surely hang separately, to paraphrase Ben Franklin.

And remember the sgae words of Abe Lincoln...a house divided against itself cannot stand. When the time comes, we need to come together as one, if we want to beat Bush and take our country back. Painful though it may be when and if your guy doesn't get the nomination (whoever your guy may be) we NEED all of you to swallow your pride, and stand united against Bush. It is this country's only hope...YOU!!

another four years of Bush is NOT an acceptable outcome. If that happens, we will not recognize this country by '08. This country needs to be dragged back center before we can hope to drag it back left where it belongs. I beg of EVERYONE...whether your guy wins or loses in the primaries...support him with all your heart, your voice, your money...but in the end...whether your huy wins or loses, PLEASE let's come together for the ultimate goal...the dethroning of Bush. ABB ALL THE WAY!!!

[kaitykaity]

5. I stepped in that batshit right after NH, and I'll never do

it again. I'll comment from the sidelines, but I won't start a thread asking a pertinent question about Kerry b/c his supporters like to throw around words like 'deceit, and then question my 'genuine'ness.

Maybe it really is bandwagoning, I couldn't say.

All I know is I don't like Kerry, so I'll have fun poking holes in their dreams about him.

[burythehatchet]

6. He sure is acting presidential

and looks like he did botox - anyone got some before and after pics?

[mermaid]

8. This Is A Sad Commentary On America, IMHO

It is truly sad that we Americans seem more attracted by style over substance. Who cares if the guy got botox?

You want my opinion??

The winner of the primary will be the first one who starts ACTING like the nominee presumptive...and quits attacking fellow Democrats, and instead ignores the others, and zeroes in on Bush!

THAT is who the nominee will be.