Did Deans decisions to opt out of the public financing system hurt him?

[NNN0LHI]

It allowed Kerry to to do the same thing without taking heat over it. And one thing is for sure. No one can compete with Kerry once he was able to use his personal wealth during the campaign. I can't believe Deans advisor's did not consider this possibility. Unless they thought if Kerry seen his numbers in single digits he would not have the nerve to spend his own money and he just might give up. I think that may have been the early fatal error the Dean camp made.

Don

[Renew Deal]

1. Dean thought he was unbeatable.

They thought the money would keep pouring in and he would never lose. Besides that, it's a flimsy thing to attack on. The bad thing is that the lack of limits let Dean blow $40 million on 2 states. They wouldn't have spent as much if the limits were there.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Kick for the midnight shift

[Raya]

3. Absolutely. Only helped if he was winning. Lost $20-40 mill in match

Kerry is also having trouble substituting for the matching funds.

[xultar]

4. No, there are no public funds anyway. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

5. Care to elaborate? n/t

[dansolo]

7. Isn't Kucinich getting shafted out of public funds?

I think that is what the poster is referring to.

[NNN0LHI]

8. I don't have a clue what the poster is talking about

That is why I was looking for a clarification.

Don

[NashVegas]

6. Doubtful, Very Doubtful

Dean has raised over 3 million dollars - probably close to 4, since losing every primary/caucus except for DC's, which doesn't count.

How much do you think the campaign would be taking in if he'd won those races?

If he were winning, I'd have no doubt he'd be pulling in enough to see him through the period between the last primary-convention, where all fund-matchers have to stop raising/spending.

Even in not winning the races, he's still pulling in enough to keep him in the race against the Kerry juggernaut.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. Yes. He'd have had 40 million to spend on Feb 3rd SC, Mo. etc....

And Kerry would have had to go it alone. I think Kerry would have opted out anyway because things were looking so grim in December.
As for Dean, it's of little consequence either way, for what good is money when people aren't buying your product?
Dean's optout was an early error but not THE fatal one.

[Raya]

10. It showed disrespect for the Public Finance laws he had vowed to support