Did Democratic attacks on Dean on confederate flag backfire?

[CMT]

Some predicted that Howard Dean's comments saying he wanted to appeal to people who drove pick up trucks with the confederate flag symbol on it would doom his presidential run.

In the month or so since that, admittedly, less than well-thought out comment and attacks on him from various candidates--Dean has, if anything, gained ground in the race for the presidential race.

**Three polls have given him 20-plus point leads in New Hampshire, better than he was running in the previous surveys.

**A new poll out of Iowa today gives Dean a ten-point lead over Gephardt.

**State polls in other states such as Massachusetts (leading Kerry by 4-9 points depending on the poll, Connecticut (only 6-points behind Lieberman) and New Jersey show Dean gaining ground on his challengers.

**He has gained the SEIU and AFSMCE Union support

**He has received several high profile congressional endorsemnt including that of Rep. Cummings the head of the CBC and most recently Rep. Nydia Valzquez and Joseph Crowley of New York (plus the Queens County Democratic organization is expected to formally endorse Dean for President).

I think the confederate flag comment (while not well expressed) actually helped Dean esepcially when all the other candidates jumped on him over it. I think that the electorate understood that he wants to bring people together and have people who drive around with these emblems on their vehicles re-evaluate their support of the GOP when manuafacturing jobs are disappearing and their kids also need better schools and health care.

[slinkerwink]

1. yep. that's my take on it

God forgive those idiot Dems for they know not what they do to Dean....;-)

[Hep]

2. It's not the flag comment

It's the campaign overall. Moreso, it's the members. We've written tens of thousands of letters to voters and influential members of their communities. It's the nature of the campaign. It turns people on, especially people who know and understand the power of the grassroots.

[paulk]

3. since the confederate flag thing involves the south

we won't really know it's effect until we have a southern primary, or a primary with a large percentage of minority voters. IMO.

[bryant69]

10. I'm not sure about this

I mean whether or not it will play well in the south is doubtful--and he recanted. So I don't think it will work all that well (truthfully, Dean Bungled . I think it's more telling to ask how it played within the Democratic Party. It was a telling example of how badly some of the other candidates want to take down Dean.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Classical_Liberal]

18. He is polling well with SC moderates!

S.C. survey gives Dean best chance to beat Bush
By LEE BANDY
On Politics


Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would have the best shot at beating President Bush in 2004, according to an unscientific online survey of moderate South Carolina Democrats.

More than 500 Democratic activists participated in the week-long survey, conducted by the South Carolina Democratic Leadership Council.

The survey — handled completely by e-mail and through the council’s Web site — included numerous questions about the nine presidential candidates and issues.

When asked to name the candidate with the best chance of beating Bush, 33 percent chose Dean, followed by retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark with 27 percent and U.S. Sen. John Edwards with 14 percent.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/columnists/lee_bandy/7330067.htm

[paulk]

20. by it's own admission, this poll is an "unscientific online survey"

of moderate S.C.Democrats. Conducted by the DLC, no less.

I wouldn't put much credibility into it.

[Classical_Liberal]

23. Since the DLC has been on a jihad against Dean

This makes me even more hopeful. It shows the dlc is not representing moderates very well.

[tsipple]

4. In a Word: Yes

This far in advance of the caucuses and primaries, almost any press is good press. And since it was such a silly attack, it didn't help the attackees. It just juiced up Dean's supporters, that's all.

I think it also damaged Gephardt, Kerry, and Edwards because they colluded on the attack. That didn't sit very well with a lot of people.

Regardless, it didn't do anything to slow down his momentum.

[CMT]

5. I agree

and I think that is why it quickly died away because their own polling showed it was a no-winner.

[loyalsister]

13. Exclusion

It wasn't just the colusion, they sounded like they wanted nothing to do with some voters.
Gep said "I don't want their votes."
Edwards had his Lynnard Skynnard quote.
And Kerry sounded elitist.
They all sounded like they wanted to exclude people from their dialogue and campaigns.

[Larkspur]

6. If Dean's campaign wasn't so well organized to take the flap, he

would have been flayed and cast aside, but because he is a superb campaigner and has a genuine empathy with people, people, especially his loyal base, have trusted him. Most knew what he meant by that quote, and saw the attacks by the other Dems as hypocritical, since Dems have been hungry for the white Dixiecrat voter for a long time.

[seaglass]

7. No, he apologized for his insensitive wording.

How could it have backfired? Sharpton and Edwards made a point, Dean conceded the point, as far as I can see, it's a non-issue.

[AP]

8. NH? IA? CT? MA? NJ? If the confed flag issue was a problem for Dean...

...it will be in the SOUTH.

Don't you think?

[Classical_Liberal]

19. He is polling well with SC moderates

S.C. survey gives Dean best chance to beat Bush
By LEE BANDY
On Politics


Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would have the best shot at beating President Bush in 2004, according to an unscientific online survey of moderate South Carolina Democrats.

More than 500 Democratic activists participated in the week-long survey, conducted by the South Carolina Democratic Leadership Council.

The survey — handled completely by e-mail and through the council’s Web site — included numerous questions about the nine presidential candidates and issues.

When asked to name the candidate with the best chance of beating Bush, 33 percent chose Dean, followed by retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark with 27 percent and U.S. Sen. John Edwards with 14 percent.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/columnists/lee_bandy/7330067.htm

[Cocoa]

9. only if you think it was just about Dean

which I never thought.

I always thought it was about the party and african americans. It was about what Sharpton has been speaking about constantly.

If they had let it slide, there would have been a lot of resentment. The way it turned out, with the dems speaking out as a party, and Dean very correctly letting himself get educated, was the best thing that could have happened.

[Scott Lee]

11. and that's what will happen with the antiDeans' other BS attacks

Like his draft board visit. Wonderful stuff! Keep it up, ADJHS. The more of a spitting froth you throw, the more popular my guy becomes.

[tsipple]

14. ADJHS! I Like That!

I assume that means Anti-Dean Junior High School.

Actually, my favorite (since I coined it :-)) is the "Axis of Feeble." :-)

[Scott Lee]

15. "Axis of Feeble" wins. And I thought I was the acronym king...

But I just handed my acronym crown to thee.

[Padraig18]

12. It drew attention to his message.

However he may have put it, it focused attention on his message, which most people agreed with.

[arewethereyet]

16. of course it helped

he was able to directly connect to the very former dems that have been driven away over the past 20-30 years. The guy is nt as dumb as he looks. (Its an expression, relax.)

[quaker bill]

22. and getting attacked for it helped the most.

I have been positing in posts for some time now that Dean wants to get attacked from the left. He needs this to help fend off the 'liberal' label the repugs will try to slap on him later.

He is alot smarter than most suspect.

[arewethereyet]

30. I'll give you that

n/t

[Classical_Liberal]

17. Yes particularly in the South!

S.C. survey gives Dean best chance to beat Bush
By LEE BANDY
On Politics


Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would have the best shot at beating President Bush in 2004, according to an unscientific online survey of moderate South Carolina Democrats.

More than 500 Democratic activists participated in the week-long survey, conducted by the South Carolina Democratic Leadership Council.

The survey — handled completely by e-mail and through the council’s Web site — included numerous questions about the nine presidential candidates and issues.

When asked to name the candidate with the best chance of beating Bush, 33 percent chose Dean, followed by retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark with 27 percent and U.S. Sen. John Edwards with 14 percent.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/columnists/lee_bandy/7330067.htm

[paulk]

21. how many times are you going to post this in the same thread?

Once is usually enough. Especially since the methodology of this poll discredits it from any serious consideration. Do you even read the stuff you post?

[Classical_Liberal]

24. If he is polling well in an organization that hates Dean

He must be doing even better in the South then the poll shows. The DLC has been on a rampage against Dean, and the DLC claims to be the voice of Southern Moderates when they attack him.

[paulk]

26. what part of "unscientific online survey" don't you understand?

This poll is meaningless.

[Classical_Liberal]

27. I don't believe so

It shows the DLC isn't able to sell it's point to it's own members.

[DrFunkenstein]

25. No, It Exposed His Huffing And Puffing Temper

And gave a nice demonstration of what Presidential doesn't look like. Now his temper is a permanent part of his media label.

<>

Throw in gay marriage, middle class tax hikes, no foreign policy, and consistently dismal match ups against Bush and I think you've got a real winner. "Four more years" has such a lovely ring to it.

Plus, now he has to mention MLK in his closing comments.

<>

But at least he brings together lots of minorities for his photo ops...

[Capn Sunshine]

28. "Huffing and Puffing?" ROTFLMAO!!!!

The only huffing and puffing is the sounds being made by these desperate namecalling attacks--- like it will do any good.

I have news for you, people LIKE Dean to stand up for himself and not wring his hands holding an olive drab hankie

[tinanator]

29. which people?

"you people"? What kind of country requires a candidate to demonstrate racist sympathies? At least Sistah Souljah wasnt hung out this time. Don't all Americans deserve better?

[billbuckhead]

31. Dean consistantly polls worse against Shrub than any other toptier 2004Dem

Do we want to win or make a statement? Winning against Bush is the statement that most needs to be made.