Dean's hopes fade in N.Va.

[Nicholas_J]

The support of state's most Democratic region now belongs to Kerry

BY PAUL BRADLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 9, 2004


ALEXANDRIA - What a difference six months makes.

Last August, in front of 3,000 cheering Democratic loyalists, presidential candidate Howard Dean delivered a rousing speech in Falls Church, laying an early claim to the voter-rich suburbs of Washington.

Northern Virginia Democrats were buoyed by their close ties to the fledgling campaign, which had become a phenomenon through its unprecedented use of the Internet to cultivate support and raise cash.

Former Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., who introduced Dean, had signed on as the Dean campaign's national treasurer.


Joe Trippi, who was running Dean's campaign, had been a key election strategist for Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, and another Moran confidant, Mame Reiley, stood by Dean's side. But six months later, as Virginia's presidential primary arrives, Reiley has withdrawn her endorsement of Dean after Trippi was fired

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[JohnKleeb]

1. Ive seen some Dean supporters out when Ive bene working

Aint given up which is nice but there was a man campaigning for Kerry and he got most of his flyers off to the people, and above all he offered the workers including myself one. I predict VA for Kerry.

[shance]

2. Dean didnt campaign in Virginia - knew it would go to Edwards or Kerry

n/t

[ShaneGR]

3. Did you even read the article?

Just wondering...

[JohnKleeb]

5. Ms. Reilly apparently left Dean over the Trippi fiasco

The elderly couple I saw campaigning for Dean and interestingly and dont ask me why had no flyers, they just had their signs and that was all. A few weeks before, a Clark campaigner did a simliar thing to the Kerry supporter I mentioned above but she didnt do as well. Now Edwards campaign, I havent seen em yet.

[JohnKleeb]

4. He didnt campaign in VA?

Thats not true Shance. I remember a big Dean rally in Falls Church in the summer and you guys have talked about it before I remember. If Virginia means little to Dean, why did two Virginia congresspeople endorse him, actually before Iowa, Dean was winning here.