WP: Dean "Searches for...Role," talks to JRE, DNC, Trippi

[DeepModem Mom]

Once Leading Man, Dean Searches for a New Role
Place of Candidate and Supporters in Party Is Unclear
By John F. Harris and Jim Vandehei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, February 18, 2004; Page A11


For a presidential candidate with few delegates and no victories, Howard Dean is having no trouble commanding the attention of top Democrats.

The former Vermont governor sought out rival John Edwards for a private meeting Sunday night in Milwaukee. After what Democratic sources described as a friendly but inconclusive conversation, Dean said the two men should talk again today. The implication was that there could be ways for Dean to help a candidate he has said he prefers over Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.).

A few days earlier, meanwhile, two top officials for the Democratic National Committee traveled to Burlington, Vt., to meet with Roy Neel, the Dean campaign's chief executive. Their agenda, diplomatically stated but unmistakable, was to find out whether and how Dean would harness his network of highly motivated grass-roots activists and small contributors on behalf of the national party and the eventual nominee, according to people familiar with the session....

***

(Dean's) meetings today, campaign aides said, are to revolve around the question of how to keep faith with his own supporters, many of whom were previously uninvolved in politics, and maximize his own influence in the Democratic Party....

***

(Under consideration are retaining a "dormant" campaign that could be "reactivated," and forming a "political action committee.")

***

In recent days, Dean has been talking with former campaign manager Joe Trippi, mastermind of Dean's Web-based fundraising operation, sources said. Trippi has been feeding Dean ideas for creating a new organization, based partly on fundraising and partly on voter mobilization, a Dean adviser said, and Trippi recently registered a new Web page called Change8for8america.com.


more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49336-2004Feb17.html

[maddezmom]

1. an endorsement in the works for Edwards?

lots of unanswered questions after reading this article, guess we'll know more after Dean's press conference today.

[patricia92243]

2. As a Dean supporter, I hope he and Edwards can get together. He would be

able to "switch" his supporter to Edwards. I, for one, could change to Edwards. I will not change to Kerry. (Yes, I will vote for any Dem)

There is a difference in supporting somone to the nomination (money and time) and just holding your nose and voting Democratic for no other reason than we want to be rid of George.

I really hope Dean and Edwards can work as a team to get Edwards the nomination - and then the Presidency.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. kick.... good reporting, posted very early this a.m.

[SangamonTaylor]

4. I've still got my Dean rally sign from the rally last year here in Houston

...and I would love to have all of the great Democrats that I saw at that rally to join the Edwards movement.

2 weeks until Super Tuesday. 3 weeks until Southern Tuesday!

[Rooktoven]

5. Edwards/Dean has been my dream ticket from day one

I think it's the strongest one we could put out.

[John_H]

6. GREAT NEWS: "Their agenda, diplomatically stated but unmistakable..."

Wavering Dean supporters, take some inspiration from your candidate. They guy's a dyed in the wool Dem. He;s going to help save his country by ridding it of the chimp. Will you?

[LuminousX]

7. Just what I need, someone pulling holier than thou rhetoric on me

Tend to your own garden.

[John_H]

8. Suck it up. This is politics. Your guy's a dem. He wants your help.

You have to decide to give it to him or not.

[LuminousX]

11. I'm more bothered by the assumption that I wouldn't support the nominee

[clarknyc]

12. Maybe it's time for a new loyalty oath thread?

Not.

[rucky]

9. Reminds me of Perot's "United We Stand" movement

but if it's not independent from the party bosses, it won't be credible. Unless Dean becomes THE party boss. Then it's bye-bye corporate cash & hello to donors like mee.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. "Faith" of supporters, Party "influence" --

I was struck by the apparent importance of both these things to Dean. I have posted before that his own importance cannot be overstated. Without him, our candidates might never have take Bush on, and we would be headed to certain defeat.

[eileen_d]

13. If Dean does back Edwards, won't he look a tad opportunistic?

The former Vermont governor sought out rival John Edwards for a private meeting Sunday night in Milwaukee. After what Democratic sources described as a friendly but inconclusive conversation, Dean said the two men should talk again today. The implication was that there could be ways for Dean to help a candidate he has said he prefers over Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.).

Since Dean has taken positions that are the polar opposite of Edwards on the war and other issues, would endorsing Edwards be all about sticking it to Kerry?

[wabeewoman]

14. Well Dean and Kerry have some polar

opposite positions too and Edwards didn't pull any dirty tricks on Dean (that we know of). That said, I am troubled by the thought that Dean would throw in with Edwards because they DO have different positions. I especially have trouble with a quote I heard from Edwards saying he supported the war and he still thought it was the right thing to do(from one of the debates). I'm not a one issue voter but someone who thinks a pre-emptive war was the right thing to do and STILL thinks so after the way things have gone....well, I'd have to question their ability for rational thought.