2004 Elections: Democratic Party Contenders

Interesting, do you realize this thread is creasingly devoting more postings to Dean than the rest of the candidates? Of course, the war has diverted much of the political talk.

I have a limited tolerance for the ramblings of most political candidates, although I will take the time to try to get the gist of what they are saying. Dean, to me, is different. Whenever I hear him speak, I get the feeling that this man really does have a fire in his gut, as someone else said. Above and beyond that, his obvious willingness to march right into the breach of Republican dirty tricks, and to take unpopular stands makes him stand out. barring anything unforeseen, I will be supporting him in 2004, and trying to take as many people with me as I can.

Throughout the threads, many of us have been Dean watchers. It is important to us that we do what we can about the next election, and one thing we don't want is clones or apologizers. I was wondering if Gary HarT would show up, but I guess not.

This Iraqi war is a diversion (and I am sure that was at least partly the reason), but Dean more and more is starting to sound more individual. I also believe that a lot of talk about Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards was put out there by repubs who are figuring who it would be easiest to beat. Dean is an unknown.

Lieberman is grating .

Mamajuana -- Here's a question I don't have an answer to -- off the cuff: Pick a running mate for Dean?

Hmmmmmmmm. Besides me? Offhand, Hillary, although I think the timing would be bad. Daschle? Quietly capable, doesn't exhibit all the ego-bearing traces of so many. I wonder if Lincoln Chafee would be interested? I'm sure they have someones in mind.

Let me think. Your ideas?

Kerry Takes Lead in Democratic Fundraising

LINK TO ARTICLE

Money, money, money makes the world go round. But Russ Feingold showed there can be another way. I'm now beginning to wonder. Various polls (at least, where I live) showed that fewer people were watching, let alone being aware of, all that television blitz, which is where so much of the money goes. There was more old-fashioned campaigning, in which some candidates actually went out to ring doorbells and go to cottage parties, and we had a few surprises here, too, with some heavily backed candidates not making it.

Obviously, this was not the case nationally, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if more people were fed up than shows. Enter Howard Dean?

Re running mates for Dean: Lincoln Chafee is a Republican, no? Though it might be refreshing to have candidates from two different parties on the same ticket, Dean and Chafee are both from small New England states. It would never fly.

Hey, maybe Chafee can mount a challenge to Bush for the top spot on the GOP ticket? Now THAT would be interesting!

I like Feingold. But I haven't "decided" who should be Veep!

We need a new, almost unknown candidate for this election. Clinton was not well known before he ran. The stage is set. Bush has discredited himself, and people will get more and more disgusted, especially with Bush's religious heavy handedness. We need a strong candidate without the baggage of past, repeated failures.

Graham from Florida? New, almost unknown describes Dean. Graham would bring a balance - he's from a southern state, is better known, and brings another kind of experience.

D'art - Lincoln Chafee is a moderate republican who seems to have been on the edge this past year. I like him, which is why I brought him up. His father was good, too. Offhand, right now, geographically, I'm having a hard time. I'd just love it if we could have candidates from Texas and Florida win.

....

Russ! Russ! Russ!

If he actually has a chance I would be sooooooooooo happy.

Voted him into office the first time around, when I lived in Wisconsin, and have been cheering him on since.

It's not just that he's a good guy, Sozobe (and I don't know that much about him) but that he is the living breathing campaign finance fighter.

Sen. John Edwards's presidential campaign announced yesterday it raised $7.4 million through the first quarter of 2003, a demonstration of fundraising strength comparable to that of President Bush and Al Gore during the same period in 1999.

Washington Post

You know, Lola, you got me thinking. Maybe we're ready for something new altogether. All the fat cats are gathering again with their donations. But, I seem to remember Feingold making it a point that he would accept small donations from a (hopefully) large enough public. Dean also seems to be making a point of this. Money is going to be tight for an awful lot of common folks, who haven't realized it yet, and the eonomic troubles will begin to pop up. Health care will be a huge problem, and it is one of the things Dean is really working on. And again, very few know him. I think, too, coming from Vermont may be one of those hidden bonuses - more trustworth, for instance, than coming from New Jersey.

Feingold and Graham were, interestingly, the two senators I found myself watching with admiration from 1/2001 onward. Because they exhibited independence, much as Dean does. I think cleanliness (moneywise), forthrightness, fiscal conservatism, and independence could make up a winning ticket, or am I wearing rose-colored glasses?

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if so, i have the same prescription

For those who don't get email updates from Dean, here's one of the latest:

The Dean campaign today announced first quarter fundraising totals that exceeded its own internal projections. From January 1st to March 31st, more than 12,000 Americans contributed over $2.6 million to Howard Dean's presidential campaign.

Grassroots supporters were instrumental in Dean's fundraising success. From the Internet, where supporters have established a strong pro-Dean presence, contributions exceeded $750,000. Netroot activists contributed about $400,000 in the last week alone.

Tartarin - do you think Dean will be an attraction for those who were Green? Grass roots - the protests attracted millions of unreported groupings. Looking at this tells me that the republicans were and are organized. But the democrats were in some sort of think-change, and the thinking may be beginning to shift.

Also, on a different note - sometimes the public gets tired of pretty boys and wants a homespun face and look - all definitions being vague, of course.