Reply #48: Two Factors

[FightinNewDem]

1.) A perceived lack of credibility on issues of national security. Note that I said "perceived", since his actual policy paper, written by former Clinton aide Ivo Daalder, actually has a lot of good points.

2.) The Deaniacs. Yes, the Deaniacs. Most Dean volunteers were decent, committed, and dedicated people, who were in it for all the right reasons. However, there was a subset that came across as sanctimonious, self-righteous pricks. They would show up at other candidates events and be disruptive, they would write vicious letters to the editor trashing Kerry, Clark, Lieberman, et al, and would generally act in a truly annoying manner. In places like NH and IA, this sort of thing can make a huge difference in how a candidate is perceived by the electorate.