Dean gets help from D.C. insiders

http://msnbc.com/news/938837.asp?0cv=CB20

--Insurgent presidential contender is building bridges to the inside-the-Beltway crowd

Maverick Howard Dean, the outside-the-Beltway presidential contender who has expressed scorn for congressional efforts such as a patients’ bill of rights, is getting help from a coterie of Washington insiders, from congressional staffers to veteran lobbyists. On Tuesday Dean continues his wooing of congressional Democrats, meeting with the caucus of 36 fiscally conservative House Democrats known as the Blue Dogs.

---snip

But as improbable as it would have seemed three months ago, some Capitol Hill political realists have now accepted — even embraced — the notion that Dean will end up as the Democratic nominee.

“I want to beat Bush and I think Dean is the best guy to do that,” said a senior Senate Democratic staffer, who spoke to MSNBC.com on condition that he not be named. “I’m convinced he’s going to win the nomination. He has won ‘the inspiration primary’ and he won the fund-raising primary,” leading all Democratic contenders with $7.5 million raised in the second quarter.

MORE...

That's pretty cool...

Dean's building a big coalition to take out Bush, and everyone' invited.

And "a senior Senate Democratic staffer, who spoke to MSNBC.com on condition that he not be named" doesn't sound like it's too rock solid yet.

And people seem to think he actually has a chance now.

This also helps kill the idea that he would be a McGovern. This is not much, but it is a start. I think some people in D.C. are starting to realize that no matter who wins, we must beat Bush.

"This Senate staffer, who has written policy memos for the Dean campaign, said, “my feeling is that Dean is doing a masterful job of capturing the progressive supporters. But he can’t win if he is seen as the captive of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party."

I'm fascinated to see how this plays.

cause they are employed by Edwards, Kerry or one of the others and they still need their jobs.......? I mean, one never knows.

Just a thought.

Julie

They may feel threatened by Dean's honesty and his intent to upset the balace the power.

We don't know whether Dean should trust their help.

It would be a slap in the face of all the other contenders, some of whom are still IN Congress, and it would be embarassing for their bosses, who are also IN Congress.

The anonymity is appropriate at this point.

Eloriel

.....I'm in!

dpstafford! :toast:

The water's jussst perfect!

:hi:


actually, watch out for the warm spot where I was just standing. *Sorry!*
;-)

a setup to get inside the campaign. Remember rove wanted him and those that vote with Bush and go to the whitehouse are BLUE DOGS!

Now ol' uncle Carl may be eviler than sin, but he aint no dummy. If he's actually rooting for Dean to be the nominee, do you think he'd show his hand like that?

Nope, my guess is that Dean has Rove soiling his silken underthings and the only way he can deal with it is to bluff, bluff, bluff again by pretending that he's malevolently overjoyed at the prospects of a matchup with Dean - thus causing us to second guess Dean's prospects like many here at DU are now doing. It's a good defensive play on Rove's part, but it won't work. Seriously, if B*sh is your boy do you really want him in debates with a pit bull like Dean who'll make mincemeat of him - or do you want him up against some mush-mouthed jellyfish who's terrified at the thought of actually having to (gasp! shock! horror!) disagree with his Chimperial Majesty on something.

If anything, Rove is praying to Lucifer every night that Lieberman gets the nod (which isn't going to happen, IMHO).

from the Dems (even the unnamed ones)since it looks like he very well could be the nominee.

I got my Dean tank top today and had a dream about him last night and now this!

So Happy to be here!


BTW, I've got to get some of these buttons in real life! :7

'the Doctor is In!'

I hope Dean's campaign people do not rely on the 'inside beltway' people. Their advice will B totally ineffective 4 the currently very effective campaign strategy. If it ain't broke.......you know....?

But it helps to have as many People and Coalitions in your corner as possible!!

And I love seeing my man Dean with the Beautiful Black People!!

As long as you're willing to take Bush on directly!

:toast:

...as to how Ford feels about him? I wish that man were going to be old enough in 2004 to be VP (Dean-Ford in 04). Yeah, it'd be a young ticket, and he's one of the more conservative blue dogs, but he's also got quite a bit going for him. And before everyone leaps, keep in mind he was the first, and one of the only, Congressional dems to back up McKinney when she called for S11 investigations...

Would you enlighten me?

And I am glad to hear he back McKinney!

If he ends up supporting the Balanced Budget Amendment, he'll lose any chance of me supporting him.

Supporting the Balance Budget Amendment, which would have to go through Congress and be passed by the States, a process that is so difficult that we don't see many Amendments, is much worse than another four years of Bush?

I meant support him in the primary.

Of course it is still very early, but this sounds like some of the media is becoming more realistic when speaking of Dean. But not CNN, take Judy Woodruff...heard her recently asking one of those demanding questions of a Democratic strategist:

Judy: But Howard Dean says he is the Democratic Wing of the Democratic party. Most Americans don't see themselves as far left wing, so how can he get the swing voters since he is so liberal?

Dem Strategist: Well, first of all Judy,

Judy: Well, that's all the time we have. Now to Ari's going away party!!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030711/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_dean_4

Some Moderate Democrats Like Howard Dean

He's known as the anti-war candidate whose appeal is to the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, and some Republicans say if Howard Dean gets the nomination, President Bush will be a sure bet to win a second term.

Not so fast, say some moderate congressional Democrats who would be affected if Dean is at the top of the ticket. He also supports gun rights, the death penalty and a balanced budget.

Republicans and even some moderate Democrats have portrayed Dean as the next George McGovern... (snip) But behind Dean's liberal image is his record as Vermont governor of reforming welfare, slashing state spending and cutting taxes for businesses.

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I'm not at all a "liberal-deceived". I like most of his policies, but not all of them. However, the things I like are enough to make me believe he can win.

Go Dean.

Am I the only one who was taken aback by the following sentence in that story?

"The 800 'super-delegates' to the Democratic National Convention - nearly 40 percent of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination - are senators, members of the House, governors, and other top officials and ex-officials." (emph. added)

I had no idea that there were that many super-delegates... How long has the party had that rule in effect?

That many super-delegates, combined with Congressional contenders' being able to merge their Congressional campaign funds with their presidential campaign funds, tilts the odds overwhelmingly in favor of status-quo insiders.