Reply #46: If he had gone to Dean,

[diamondsoul]

he wouldn't be where he is in the race now.

Dean just wasn't the candidate he could recommend to his supporters. I hate to say it but there is a lot of animosity between the two groups right now, and a recommendation like that would have cost Dennis a lot more support than some seem to realize.

Howard Dean has shown a complete lack of respect for Dennis Kucinich from the outset. This is something I struggle with a lot, yet still manage to defend the Governor when he's wrongly attacked. It's a fact and one he can't get past when it comes to Kucinich's most loyal supporters. Can I personally put it behind me and worry about this Primary race and beating Bush? Sure, but I'm not everyone. I'm a forgiving sort anyway, otherwise I'd be opposed to every candidate we have.

The situation in Iowa was what it was- Clark wasn't competing, Sharpton had nothing to offer, and Kucinich people were not going to turn over to Dean or vice versa in large enough groups to make a difference. He had to get a bloc of voters he wouldn't have gotten any other way and somehow pull himself up in the ranks. He accomplished both, and that's what winners do.