Dean luring newcomers to politics

[stickdog]

http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=80471

Tom Fry, a 38-year-old freelance writer from Sedona, has never involved himself in politics much. He has not campaigned for anyone and has not made any campaign contributions.

Until now.

Fry is one of a number of Arizona residents who has joined the grassroots rally behind Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont who has been the front-runner in the Democratic presidential candidate race.

Fry is a newcomer to politics, but this month he was named the northern Arizona coordinator for Dean's campaign after showing much enthusiasm and initiative. Fry donated about 20 hours of his week to the campaign and has given about $200 -- a considerable sum on a freelancer's earnings -- to Dean's fund-raising efforts.

[vi5]

1. I think this can be said of a lot of major candidates....

The same thing with McCain, the same thing with Clinton, the same thing with Perot, and even Clark. I think any come from nowhere candidate with an outsider angle attracts people who don't like politicians or who want to root for an underdog. I think Dean has done it as well but I don't personally see it any more or less than I did for McCain or Clinton or Perot or even dare I say it...Nader.

It's a good thing no matter who does it since more people need to be involved and politically aware. But I don't think it's a reinvention of the wheel or unprecedented.

[stickdog]

3. Except Dean has done it on an unprecedented level when measured by

each and every possible objective criterion.

Why is that so difficult for some to accept?

[vi5]

4. Then explain it to me....

I'm not sure how you can measure something like that. Say what you will but a few articles profiling people who weren't involved in politics prior that that particular candidate running is not exactly a measurable standard enough to say that it has far surpassed anyone in the past.

At the time there were actual figures of people registering as republicans to vote for McCain in the primaries. Have registered Dems shot up for Dean? I don't know but I haven't really seen any proof of it beyond anecdotal evidence.

I'm not saying he HASN'T bought new people into politics. It's undeniable that he has. But I'm not sure how you are measuring it against the numbers that the other candidates I mentioned brought into politics.

You can point to the internet numbers and meet ups, but that's like saying that comparing the box office of a movie released in 2003 with one released in 1945. Of course Dean has higher meet up numbers than McCain or Clinton or Perot or Nader did because that didn't exist when those people were running. So it's a complete apples to oranges comparison.

Like I said, I don't not accept that Dean has bought new people into politics. I'm just saying I haven't seen any evidence that it is measurable more than other "maverick" candidates, and that whoever does it is a good thing.

[stickdog]

7. How would you measure it? I measure it by the number meeting up,

donating and volunteering.

And second place isn't even close.

[rhino91063]

8. I think bush should be given some of the credit

The terrible things he does, inspires good people to action.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

2. Monday should prove

what the Dean campaign has been saying for months. There will be LOTS of positive buzz about the good doctor when the true numbers come out from the Iowa caucus. These polls everyone's throwing around aren't showing the number of new voters Dean has brought into the process. Monday will be historic.

[Kira]

5. Do you think

he still has a chance to come in first (or at least second)? I can't stand the waiting!!!!!!

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

6. Absolutely!

I have no doubt he will actually benefit from these low poll numbers by coming in first and getting tons of media coverage from it. If he had been on top of the polls, then him winning wouldn't be newsworthy.