Dean: Doesn't Need to Win Any State Tues.

[rodbarnett]

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Thursday that he doesn't need to win any of the seven states holding contests Tuesday to keep his beleaguered campaign alive.

Coming on the heels of the campaign's decision not to buy TV ads in those states, Dean said he will focus on picking up as many delegates as he can, but that only requires him to place, not win, in the blitz of upcoming primaries and caucuses.

"We're going to have to win eventually," he said. "But the question was do we have to win on February 3. Of course we want to, but we don't have to."

<snip>


With his money and momentum depleted after losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, Dean has decided to save his ad money for the Feb. 7 elections in Michigan and Washington state and, 10 days later, those in Wisconsin.


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040129/D80CM1PG2.html

[leyton]

1. When does he expect to start winning states?

I mean, if you haven't won any primaries by Feb. 3, you're running out of time. Obviously, there are plenty of delegates left, but if he doesn't win any by Tuesday, why should he expect to win other states? He's got to show that he's competitive, and being defeated in states all around the country will not help his case.

Oh yeah, EDIT: He's got to show that he's competitive, or else he won't have a good shot at a firm win even in Michigan, for example.

[mopinko]

43. is this a law or something

or just the media certified convetional wisdom.

[DJcairo]

46. No, but if you cant win in the first 9 states, where can you win?

I don't think he does well in MI either. I saw a poll recently that's up on my toughenough.org site showing Dean behind Kerry by a factor of 2 and that was before Tuesday's NH primary.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

51. The other 41?

:shrug:

[eileen_d]

2. Dean always knows exactly what to say.

I wonder how his bedside manner was when he was a practicing physician?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eileen_d]

9. Oooh, a spelling flame!

I'm honored. (sniff) I'd like to thank the Academy, the DLC...

[creativelcro]

26. It's not a flame. It's a spelling correction

[liberalnurse]

35. You are quite wrong.

He began his practice in Vermont with his wife, Judy. He continued practicing medicine as Lt. Governor until he became the Governor of Vermont. She now manages their practice.

[liberalnurse]

38. I doubt Kerry ever threw those metals....

I heard it was bird seed for the pigeons or something that resembled metals...itwas essentially a "show".

[sangh0]

44. Since that is what you heard

"somewhere", I'm sure it's true

[sangh0]

3. Dean doesn't need to win or Dean doesn't need to whine?

"Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Thursday that he doesn't need to whine in any of the seven states holding contests Tuesday to keep his beleaguered campaign alive.

Coming on the heels of the campaign's decision not to buy TV ads in those states, Dean said he will focus on picking up as many delegates as he can, but that only requires him to pace, not whine, in the blitz of upcoming primaries and caucuses.

"We're going to have to whine eventually," he said. "But the question was do we have to whine on February 3. Of course we want to, but we don't have to."

[economic justice]

4. momentum=money=wins

losses=no funds=more losses

[Kahuna]

5. Earth to Howard... You to win a state on Feb. 3rd.

nt

[mopinko]

45. or what?

[On the Road]

6. It's a Game of Expectations

With the money gone, Dean can't spread himself too think and it's probably good that he lowers expectations now.

I agree it's a long shot, but his best shot is concentrating on the states he might win. Washington, Wisconsin, maybe even Michigan if he can get it going. It'll be a test of Neel as a fixer.

Getting one small state next week -- even Delaware -- would be a big shot in the arm for Dean. His expectations have been so catastrophically lowered that any win would start the refrain "Excuse me, he's not quite dead yet. Feeling a little better actually."

[adamrsilva]

7. Not Feb 3 but Feb 7

He has to win Michigan and/or Washington to stay viable.

[creativelcro]

10. I have to get a coffee to stay awake....

[cbua34]

11. Of course he doesn't...

because he has no money and doing less than spectacular in the Feb. 3 polls. Stick a fork in Dean, he is done.

[displacedtexan]

12. Ya know, that sounds reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallll good and all...

but damn. Sounds like 'we know we haven't got a snowball's chance in Hell, but we'll get as many folks as possible to keep sending us money.'
I can see it now: Bush* Faces Multi-State Loser in Presidential Race

[returnable]

13. What I wanna know is...

...where are all the Dean supporters who ridiculed Clark for skipping Iowa now? :hi:

[economic justice]

15. Very true

All's fair in love - and politics. Good question, by the way!

[blm]

16. whoop, there it is.

.

[bigwillq]

17. I'm still here

I'm not sure what this has to do with Dean.

I don't think it showed that it helped Clark in NH after skipping Iowa. I think Clark is in as much trouble as Dean.

[returnable]

31. Huh?

"I'm not sure what this has to do with Dean."

This thread is about Dean not really contesting several states. See the connection?

"I think Clark is in as much trouble as Dean."

Let's see... Clark is competing in the February 3rd states, he's running ads in the February 3rd states, and his staff is actually getting paid.

Clark's campaign has some challenges ahead, sure, but I think the Dean camp might be in slightly more trouble :hi:

[KC21304]

21. They are probably hanging out with the Dean supporters

who ridiculed Kerry when he changed his staff and was low on funds. Or maybe they are the same people, you think ?

[liberalnurse]

39. Why?

[nancyharris]

14. Excellent!

<""We're going to have to win eventually," he said. "But the question was do we have to win on February 3. Of course we want to, but we don't have to."">

Governor Dean is finally beginning to sound like Congressman Kucinich.

[KC21304]

28. Thanks, that was hilarious. I hope it was meant to be.

[bigwillq]

18. As a Dean supporter until the Doctor decides it's over

I think he DOES have to win a state on Feb.3 and maybe two. I think his campaign is a mess right now and yesterday's changes did not help it. I will support Dean until he says it's over and I still plan on voting for him in my primary but a win is a must on Tuesday, imo.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. So the 50 state campaign is down to what?

20?

[mopinko]

47. i think it's 2

to hear some people talk.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

48. Michigan and Wisconsin and maybe Washington

I think that's about right.

[jsw_81]

20. I can see it now:

Dean: I don't need any states on Super Tuesday.

Dean: I don't need a majority of delegates at the convention.

Dean: I don't need any votes on November 2.

[incapsulated]

22. Well, it's a gamble alright

Maybe he doesn't have a choice though. I just think it would be better to go for broke now. If he doesn't win any states at all, the story after Tuesday will be those who did win, and they will really start pounding the nails in his coffin in the media. He still has a base of support around the country that he can count on, and Kerry doesn't, he going on momentum right now.

The south/west were always going to be tough for him but he can compete in Delaware and Missouri.

[molly]

23. Feb 7th is too late - he will have lost all of his momentum

by then. Is this his graceful way out?

[yellowcanine]

24. Dean is imploding - Even if this were true he should not say it.

If Dean hopes to turn this around, he has got to start thinking a little before he opens his mouth. He has just written off the Feb 3 states - any wavering supporters there that hear this are gone. For someone who came roaring out of the box, he sure doesn't seem to be doing anything right these days.

[Myra]

27. Agreed. And Kerry never should have said he doesn't need the South.

Gaffe.

[sangh0]

29. Do you have a link for that?

Or did you just paraphrase what Kerry really said?

[yellowcanine]

32. I would like to see that link also. When did he say that?

This has been repeated on the internet yet I have never seen such a quote.

[KC21304]

33. I think someone asked if it was possible and he said it was possible

because Gore did it, paraphrasing of course. He did not say he didn't need it and actually kicked off his whole campaign in South Carolina last year.

[sangh0]

34. It's been repeated on the Internet?

Well then it must be true!! :-)

[KC21304]

25. I'm with you. Dean never has to win any states as far as I am concerned.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

36. LOL!!! nt

[sangh0]

37. I bet his disapproval ratings would drop

if he lost every state

[LuminousX]

30. He doesn't, BUT...

If he doesn't he is deeper in the hole and it will be harder to recover. If he can win just one state with decent showing in others, then he has a stronger position to work from.

[GumboYaYa]

40. That is scary.

If he falls to fourth or fifth because of no effort on Tuesday, he may not have any chance of pulling off victories on the 7th.

Many people here want to gloat over Dean's fate, but as someone who has poured their time and money into the campaign it is a sad way to go. Unfortunately, without a miracle it looks like the writing is on the wall.

I'm gonna buck up and do everything I can to help on Tuesday. If Dean fails, I'll take a break and then jump on board with our nominee to beat Bush. It sure will be a lot easier to do and more enjoyable, if I don't have to face endless gloating over the demise of my candidate.

[PurityOfEssence]

41. The essence of the Dean campaign: none of the old rules apply

Things like consistency, not pissing people off, telling the truth, being responsible for one's actions, having some comportment, not speaking in reckless generalizations, actually winning primaries.

Although not all of his supporters are young (by a long shot) it's still indicative that those who scorn history most are the ones who don't know anything about it.

"Conventional Wisdom" is a thorough oxymoron, but the spazzy groupthink religious experience of many of his supporters is just boggling.

[eileen_d]

49. Those pesky rules...

Things like consistency, not pissing people off, telling the truth, being responsible for one's actions, having some comportment, not speaking in reckless generalizations, actually winning primaries

Yep, Dean throws all of those pesky things out the window -- and I'm supposed to cheer him on? I'm supposed to *want* this guy to lead the nation? Not bloody likely.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

50. 'comportment' excellent word

should be used more often. Dean should have studied graceful losing speeches before taking to that Iowa stage.

[Frederic Bastiat]

42. Yup, he needs to win them all to survive n/t