Dem presidential rivals suffer ‘growth pains’ chasing Dean

[pruner]

By Alexander Bolton

The pressure on leading Democratic presidential candidates to replicate Howard Dean’s success raising money and supporters on the Internet has forced them to loosen their grip on their image and adapt to a new era of campaigning.

“It’s like watching an adolescent or someone who is trying to be old school and new school at the same time,” said Mark Walsh, who was the Democratic National Committee’s chief technical adviser in 2001 and 2002. Walsh is now working closely with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to put the candidate’s Internet campaign on par with Dean’s.

Dean raised close to $15 million dollars in the third quarter, almost three times as much as Kerry, who was once considered the front-runner. Dean collected half his take through the Internet, as he did the previous quarter when he raised $7.6 million, said a campaign aide.

Dean’s rivals in the Democratic presidential primary are now asking themselves how a former governor from Vermont raised so much support online and how they can do the same.

“There’s a saying, ‘Never get in a bar fight with someone who has a lot less to lose,’” said Walsh by way of explanation. “Dean had nothing to lose.”

http://www.thehill.com/news/100803/growthpains.aspx

[LuminousX]

1. One of the reasons why I support Dean

He is able to take risks. Able and willing. It means he will either succeed wonderfully or go out flaming. Either way is good entertainment.

[Cha]

2. BFD "Dean has nothing to Lose"...that's not the Point ,,,jacko..

the Point being Dean and our Country have Everything to Gain! :kick:

[Code_Name_D]

3. A wise man need only whisper.

A wise man need only whisper. It is the fool who must shout his wisdom to others.

I can think of no better example, than Dean. 50% of his success simply comes from speaking truth to power. Mean while, it is the DLC that plays the role of the fool. They need lots and lots TV add time to get people to pay attention to there retail politics.

[caledesi]

4. Very cool CND! <whispering>

[damnraddem]

5. Good! It's about time they changed. It's time that politics changed.

This is one of the things that Dean's campaign has done -- injected new technologies, found new ways to organize the grass roots, involved thousands who had been less active. If Dean is not the Democratic candidate, some other Democrat will benefit from this. But that other Democrat will need to change with the times, as will the party. But, then, I'm hoping that Dean will be the Dem candidate.

[robbedvoter]

6. So, which of you are the professional surfers?

"

Dean has done other things to maximize his online fundraising punch,
like reinvesting money into expanding donor lists and paying “bloggers”
or professional Internet surfers to keep the enthusiasm up on his
website."

[janx]

7. Don't be ridiculous. The Dean campaign was based on people,

and some of those people cruised the Net. I know I was asked to promote Dean when I showed an interest in volunteering, but I was never paid for it. NEVER. And I was already a DU poster, so it didn't matter anyway. I spent time volunteering for Dean in my community.

The most enlightening thing about the Dean campaign is its trust in its supporters. Gov. Dean knows and his campaign staff know that there will be minor differences in the people who support his candidacy, but they also know that a return to the people is ultimately the best way to go--be they Republican, Green, Constitution, Libertarian, Independent, or Democrat. I am delighted that this is coming from the Democratic party, but when the general election happens, a lot more support will be evident regarding Dean. Dean trusts people. Dean supporters are not scripted; various opinions are all over the map. The one thing people will know about Dean is that they are a part of the democratic republic they are supposed to be in charge of under our constitution. The American and human spirit are hallmarks of the Dean campaign, and Dean is willing to take that risk of independence among his supporters.

It is marvelous that Governor/Dr. Dean allows the free exchange of ideas on the blog at his website. Many ideas are exchanged, the troll factor increases revenue, and all kinds of possiblities are explored.