CNN says that moderate Dems went overwhelmingly to Kerry over Dean

[Syrinx]

Why would that be? It seems to me that Kerry is much more liberal than Dean. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[JohnKleeb]

1. Kerry appears to be more moderate than Dean I guess

The fact that Kerry is more liberal than Dean amongst other stuff makes me prefer Kerry to Dean. Kerry had a nice coalition of voters out there tonight. He did equally well amongst liberal voters.

[Sean Reynolds]

4. Kerry once was a libera..

Until he sold out his beliefs to run for president. He switched clothes and became a moderate Democrat.

I've always said I'd like the Kerry of the 80s and 90s over today's Kerry. But we're not getting it, sadly.

[JohnKleeb]

11. look at his platform

I'll tell ya what I told the people when your candiate was ahead, promote your candiate, dont degrade the others. :shrug: I think I am gonna retreat to the lounge for a while, I hated it then and I hate it equally now.

[Sean Reynolds]

12. I'll degrade him all I want.

Kerry has shown since 9-11 he's a status quo leader and the fact he won't make too many changes in the WH if elected.

[JohnKleeb]

16. go ahead

I aint stopping ya. Its just, its better to promote your candiates strengths then the other guy's weaknesses. Thats my philosophy. I'll promote my guy over your guy's weakness. :shrug: go ahead, its the first amendment eh, freedom of speech.

[Sean Reynolds]

19. My candidate has been attacked here on DU since mid fall.

Welcome to my world.

[Syrinx]

8. I guess the media equate "liberal" with "passionate"

And to a certain extent maybe that's right. But issue by issue, Dean is the more moderate guy. Hell, I don't really care either way. I'll be fully behind whichever Dem wins. I would be slightly less enthusiastic for Lieberman or Sharpton, but even those two, in my mind, would be a huge improvement over you know who.

[JohnKleeb]

13. He does come across as more liberal than Kerry

Thats my point. Yeah youre right, thats teh way the media is.

[Cleita]

2. So where does it leave all those independents that

turned up to vote? Who did they vote for? I think they voted for Kerry giving him the wide margin he got, not moderate Democrats.

[BayCityProgressive]

3. Kerry

is less inflamatory and has a more broadbased message. He appeals to environmentalists, firefighters, police officers, veterans, and women, whereas Dean connects more to the college crowd.

[Sean Reynolds]

6. No.

He appeals to the people that believe the meme Dean can't win. People didn't vote for Kerry based on his ideas, they voted for him based on the fact that he's 'electable'. :eyes:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. All those firefighters' unions and newspapers ignored his ideas?

Sorry but Kerry connects on many levels- intellectually, personality wise... it's no accident he is getting support from a broad spectrum of voters.

[HFishbine]

38. Exit Poll Stats

For those NH voters who said that beating bush was more important than the issues, 42% went for Kerry, 22% to Dean. For those who said the issues were the most important, 29% went to Dean and 29% to Kerry.

When it came to the top candidate quality, those who cited "stands up for beliefs" went for Dean 47% to Kerry's 21%. Among those who cited "shake things up," 46% went for Dean and 13% to Kerry.

Independents went for Kerry 36% to Dean's 25%. Democrats went for Kerry 40% to Dean's 30%.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/NH/index.html

[molly]

30. He's electable based on his ideas and his HISTORY!

[Loonman]

33. Electability

There's a reason for that.....that's what Dean people need to learn.

[George_Bonanza]

14. Dean lost the college and young vote in Iowa

Although I think he won those in New Hampshire.

[AP]

29. I think Kerry and Edwards both beat Dean in that demographic in IA.

Doesn't anyone remember the MTV debate: the students didn't seem to like Dean, and there was discussion here even then that he wasn't doing that well with students.

[Oreegone]

23. Evidently you never watched a Dean Crowd

Evidently you never watched a Dean Crowd on TV or went to a Meetup. Dean has a huge following of middleaged and older folks, then the college kids. I think he is lightest for support in the early 30's range.

[eileen from OH]

5. I think by "moderate" they really mean

folks who had listened to the spin and confused a perception of the personality with the actual candidate and his stand on the issues. That is, his personality was not "moderate" although HE really is.

If that makes any sense at all.

eileen from OH

[Adapter44]

7. Hmmm belief

that Dean isn't REALLY a liberal. Maybe that is why. Maybe people WANT a liberal. That is what I believe.

Personally I have been swayed to believe that Dean (by his record as gov) is NOT nearly as liberal as he and others have claimed him to be. That is why I am now supporting Kerry over him as a 2nd choice. (first being Kucinich) I am not trying to start a debate. I am just saying that *I* feel this way, and may not be alone.

Keep in mind months ago I WAS a Dean supporter. I got turned off, and I know others have too. They sold me on the liberal claims. Fortunately research and statements by other candidates helped me realize I was mislead.

I have never been a Clark supporter for similar reasons. (no record, and too much evidence to suggest he is not what he seems)

[DoNotRefill]

26. Ummm...according to the exit polling...

Dean cleaned up among those who said they were "liberals", while Kerry "cleaned up" among those who said they were "moderates".

New Hampshire was a victory of the Status Quo over the Liberals.

For those who support Kerry for the nomination, all I can say is "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

[diamond14]

9. Kerry is way more mainstream than Dean, who strikes many as

very radical....gosh...just yesterday, in a speech, Dean portrayed bush* policies toward women as an exact replica of the Taliban approach...

I can understand what Dean is trying to say...but he messes it up so bad, it appears very extreme, real radical....

Dean directly attacks the pResident, calling him Taliban, while Kerry states a similar position, and chooses much better words...Kerry says stuff like...the pResident's policies do not reflect the desires of American Woman, who want medical decisions to be made in their doctors offices, without bush regulation involved...Dean just blurts out insanities for polical remarks, often destroying himself and his message....the pResident is Taliban...it just sounds radical, insane, and mad...that's why the SCREAM did not ring well...

BTW, Kerry has many positions, like the military, that are really mainstream right down the middle, patriotic...

read more about Kerry's positions here
http://www.JohnKerry.com

[candy331]

15. The news media say whatever their

mouth piece for the day tells them to say. I listen less and less as the day goes on. The news media is why most people in this country are sheeple because the media does all their thinking for them.

[JohnKleeb]

17. I have the exit polls on me if anyone wants any info

I have them.

[Syrinx]

24. well let us have it

:)

[spooky3]

27. Here's a link to exit polls.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3762821/

[AntiCoup2K4]

18. Republicans changed their registrations to vote for Kerry

Because they know that he has nothing to run on against Junior. Supported the tax cuts, supported the war, supported the Patriot Act. And besides, He's Skull & Bones and PNAC. Junior might as well be looking in a mirror (or doing lines from one)

[George_Bonanza]

22. Kerry's PNAC?

Ok...

[George_Bonanza]

20. Kerry is less obnoxious than Dean, moderate in behavior

While Kerry has a very admirable liberal record, he chooses to be more diplomatic. He accuses the president of being a terrible leader, yet acknowledges that Bush is probably a good man who THINKS he's doing good things (after all, I seriously doubt Bush is an insider who willfully wants to bring down America). Because Kerry seems to attack issues and policies rather than the actual person, he comes off as more moderate, which also comes off as more appeasing. This is of course purely cosmetic shallowness, but that's how it goes. Dean has more anger and more gusto in his attacks, and even if his record and policies are not as left-wing as Kerry's, the power he puts in attacking the Republicans makes up for that, and more.

When they say JK is moderate while Dean is liberal, I think what they're trying to say subconsciously is that JK is moderate in emotion while Dean is liberal in it.

[mmonk]

21. What is moderate?

those that oppose the right the least? Since today's right is way right, such descriptions don't apply in my opinion. I think we need more contrast but it doesn't look like we're going to get it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

25. When Kerry makes his defense of liberal values and policies

it sounds so reasonable that he actually wins people over. Moderates like a reasonable argument. You don't persuade people by yelling.

[AP]

28. Because Dean is POLARIZING

Dean is intentionally polarizing. People have been saying for a year that Dean wouldn't appeal to people in the middle --even though he goveverned from the center-right. However, that's the nature of center-right democrats: people want their candidates to be liberal on fiscal policy and APPEAR socially conservative. Dean was conservative on fiscal policy and appears socially liberal.

[molly]

31. By gosh - I think you've got it!

[Kahuna]

36. Indeed he is. He "polarized" the moderates into action..

I said it would happen.

[creativelcro]

32. Nothing to do with that. It's simply that many NH independents

came from MA (cheaper to live in NH than MA, even if yo continute working in MA)...

[CWebster]

34. Dean has been crucified by the media

They view Kerry as the safer bet, with all the unelectable memes and doubt cast on Dean. The media hasn't started on Kerry yet. Wait and see. It will be the 2002 elections all over again if Kerry gets it. The anti-war Left doesn't like him and is disgusted with DLC candidates---and they know the issues, and the Right will string him up as the cliche NorthEastern limousine liberal. At least he will have the swing voters.

[Kahuna]

35. Moderates ride to the rescue again. Let this be a lesson...

to the "grassroots" supporters. When you put up a radical candidate, and there actually are viable and attractive alternatives, the moderates will get out and votes in swarms.

This is just a lesson to our activists friends who think they will determine election results because they are "grassroots."

[creativelcro]

37. Sabotage....

[blm]

39. Kerry's a smart liberal. He sells liberal stances with moderate language.

Dean was selling CENTRISM with anarchist language. BIG difference.

[mitchum]

40. Kerry is a liberal who can appeal to moderates

a dream candidate

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

41. What a shock!! The right wing went for Kerry.

Why am I not surprised? Could it be that they liked his play it safe vote for the war?

[On the Road]

42. Why? Moderate Style over Moderate Substance