Reply #5: Dean Already Had The Internet/Reactionary Vote

[DrFunkenstein]

Clark had pulled out of Iowa already, because he knew you couldn't win there without a tight organization in place. Dean already had the up-in-arms crowd, and needed to expand his base by using the strong polls to look "safer" and more Presidential to Iowans. Fortunately for Kerry fans, Dean and Trippi were at odds over what the agenda ultimately was.

Not to mention that Trippi gave Iowa up for lost very early (and refused to leave his east coast turf to fix it), while Kerry made two major changes in his campaign line up.

Dean was reluctant to deal with bad news, his staff was reluctant to give it to him, and by the time he understood the true nature of his standing in Iowa, it was probably too late.

Kerry, much to his credit, was totally willing to hear what was really going on, no matter how bleak it sounded. That's a big part of leadership - and a quality that enamored me to Kerry very early on. For all the talk of his problems with "nuance," he truly tries to get the big picture, deliberate on it, and then act decisively. What made him a successful candidate in Iowa will make him an amazing President.