The argument as to why he was elected so many times could be answered by Vermont progressives who stuck to Vermonts campiagn finance limits, when suddenly Dean reversed himself.
If he happened to be so well liked by democrats wht did large numberso of them leave the democratic party to join the more liberal Progressive party. This almost lsot Dean his last term. I mean if you want to vote a guy who was more popular with repuublicans than democrats and even so popular withe Republicans that a large number splintered off and formed a "REPUBLICANS FOR DEAN" group. Then so be it. But that WHy was he elected five time is OLD. You must also ask. "WHO ELECTED HIM FIVE TIMES"
Progressive Party leader says of Dean:
*Howard Dean:
Howard Dean is clearly the runt of this litter. Dean is shallow, glib, mean spirited and overly ambitious yet Vermonters continue to reward him with term after term. On issues that matter, Dean is regressive and responsive only to the needs of elite vested interests. Taking his lead from the new generation of grossly hypocritical, Bill Clinton type Democrats, Dean mouths the ancient words of Democratic Party idealism but then repudiates labor and the poor confidant that they have no where else to go. Big money motivates Howard Dean, a spoiled brat rich kid from Long Island who always gets his own way.
Dean has never had serious opposition in any election campaign. He slid into the Lieutenant Governor's office and took over the top job when Snelling died. He has won easily since because Republicans like to vote for him while their own Party candidates have been either little known or hopelessly right wing.
Of our six modern governors over the last thirty five years, Deane Davis gets my vote for number one, definitely a good guy. I'll rank Phil Hoff a not too shabby number two because Vermont really needed a good kick in the ass. From there, they go down fast. Dick Snelling gets a grudging number three because he represented stability and administrative competence. We'll give Madeline Kunin number four simply because she was less of a snake oil salesman than Tom Salmon, our choice for number five. Howard Dean, of course, is the worst in modern memory.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to plot the trend.
So what's happening here? Are Vermonters really getting dumber or do we just not care any more? If the past be any guide to the future then we got trouble down the road.
http://www.sover.net/~auc/6govs.htmA little more to back that opinion up:
The group, known as "Republicans for Dean" represents the first organized GOP endorsement for Dean in any of his five campaigns..
Gilbert, a former member of the late Gov. Richard Snelling's administration, said he took the initiative to form the group, which boasts a membership of more than 30 moderate Republicans from around the state who back Dean.
He said the committee would support Dean's candidacy by reaching out to other moderates in the party as well as helping Dean with fund-raising.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/election2000/repbackdean.htmlThis was the first organized REpublican group to form to support Dean because the Progressive PArty became So laege as a direct result of Deans coservatism.
Many Democrats blame thi directly on Dean:
Certainly the Democratic caucus was never 100 percent behind him and where there were differences, it was around how progressive or how moderate he was," Chard said.
Rivers blames Dean for helping a third political party to flourish in Vermont that many say siphons votes from Democrats. "The Progressive Party gained some momentum during his years as governor because he was so conservative," Rivers said, although she said she still may support Dean for president
http://premium1.fosters.com/2003/news/may%5F03/may%5F19/news/reg%5Fvt0519a.aspChard was actually one of Deans few remaining Democratic part supporters in the legislature.
Another thing to consider. The same large businesses that Supported Bush's campaign in Vermont in 2000, were thhe same companies rooting for Dean for Governor.
Or as the progressives say of Dean:
Incumbent Governor Howard Dean is a DLC-type Democrat who never met a corporation he didn't like or a mountaintop he wasn't willing to sell to a ski-resort developer. Pollina, who had led Vermont's successful fight for public financing of statewide elections, became the first to benefit from it. As required by law, he raised $35,000 (from donations averaging $22), then qualified for $265,000 in public money, the only funds he can spend. Pollina was on an equal money footing with Dean. But not for long. A court threw out the law's spending limit, and immediately Dean inoperated years of pious blather about campaign finance reform. Five days after lauding such reform at the Democratic convention, he rejected public financing and put himself back on the block for corporate contributions and soft money from the Democratic Party.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Political_Reform/VoteHopes_NotFears.htmlSo the answer to how Dean got re-elected five times. By backing andsuporting Republicans, and by being a corporate whore. Thats how.
The same kind of behavior you guys criticize in the DLC.