Dean's real winning strategy - No Voter Left Behind

[Scott Lee]

Have you ever seen that obnoxious guy with the infomercial about putting tiny little ads in thousands of newspapers to make an income? Yeah, I laughed at him too. But Good Gods almighty, the guy IS a millionaire, you can't deny it. He is one admittedly annoying example of how broadmarketing can triumph over target marketing higher contracts.

Enter Howard Dean. It's no secret that he's made a name for himself (and a record for raising funds) by appealing to the little guy, the singular voter sending in a small check. But he's taken it farther. Rather than apply a strategy that concentrates on the "key states, key contributors" like most of his Insider Statist competition, he is sticking to a 50 state plan, taking his message to all and leaving "no voter left behind."

Is it working? It sure seems to be....


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Dean's 50-state strategy

Jules Witcover

WASHINGTON - The significance of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's decision to finance his campaign without federal money is emerging in a 50-state strategy designed to outgun the rest of the 2004 Democratic presidential field.

While the eight other Democratic candidates focus on next month's kickoff Iowa precinct caucuses and New Hampshire primary, Dr. Dean's self-financed campaign is already staffing and planning heavy spending in many states beyond the opening round of delegate-selecting contests.

The ambitious initiative is patterned after the successful 50-state strategy of another small-state governor and early Democratic long shot, Jimmy Carter of Georgia in 1976. Mr. Carter scored a breakthrough in Iowa and New Hampshire and was never caught afterward.

A mark of Mr. Carter's success was his ability to run in every state and to post at least one victory on every election day during the primary period. That performance maintained his image as a winner even in the later stages of the 1976 Democratic contest. Late-entering Sen. Frank Church of Idaho and Gov. Jerry Brown of California combined to defeat him in nine of 11 states contested by one or both of them in the late spring. During the same period, Mr. Carter won in seven others.

more here -> http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.witcover24dec24,0,6852857.column?coll=bal-home-columnists

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Howard Dean. One voter, one state at a time.

[jpgpenn]

1. soooo u are saying...

that Dean is on par with that "obnoxious guy", hacking a quick buck?

[Scott Lee]

3. Was the little ad guy running for President?

Why no, no he wasnt. Thanks.

[Chutaiko]

2. Good and hopefully not flawed strategy

Unfortunately the President isn't chosen as much by the voters as the President is chosen by The Electoral College.....as anyone who saw the Dubya/Gore debacle of 2000 would surely know.

The main iss ue is that a surprisingly small number of the most populous states can carry the number of electoral votes to win.

If Dubya campaigns in only the top 10 most populous states then he can carry the election (I think the top 10 can carry it...can someone chime in with the correct figures?) to victory without an issue.

I just hope Dean (or whoever wins the nomination) doesn't spread themselves too thin by trying to hit all 50 states and end up with as many electoral votes as Mondale in '84.

I wish we could look to Carter as an example as stated in the article but I don;t think we can compare the two. Carter was up against Nixon's boy and the entire nation wanted to sweep Nixon under the rug at that time....1976 was only 2 years after Watergate...

[Scott Lee]

5. Good point, and I'm all for the eradication of the Electoral College

myself, but what we have to keep in mind is that the EC vote is SUPPOSED to be somewhat harmonious with the popular vote (although we know how that can go).

If Dean's 50 state strategy is successful in getting the popular backing, it shows the Democrats, and the nation in general, that there is indeed a widebased unrest with business as usual. That might lead to a complete restructuring of the Democratic Party into a winning entity again. In my humble opinion, that result would be a wonderful consolation prize should Dean lose the GE.

[HFishbine]

11. If Bush's strategy is to win the 10 most populous states

He'll lose.

California
Texas
New York
Florida
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Ohio
Michigan
New Jersey
North Carolina

Not only do they total of electoral votes for those state fall short of the 270 needed to win (256), at least five are strongly democratic, and a few more are swing states.

[rucky]

4. Imagine what this team will be doing if Dean wins the nomination

Trippi is a friggin genius! Always full of surprises & innovations.

[Scott Lee]

7. You'll be seeing a 50 state vote grab, including wooing rethugs away

from their predicted vote. What sweet victory it would be to see disgruntled repubs actually vote for Dean as a swat at Bushhole (who many think has betrayed their core philosophies).

If Dean plays this right he could turn the whole process on it's head.

[Zomby Woof]

14. a 50 state grab???

Dean??? :D

This country is still divided. NO candidate on either side will get all 50 states.

This is why Dean's supporters get barraged in here with criticism, because of claims like yours.

[Scott Lee]

16. "Grab" means attempt.

You're welcome.

[Democrats unite]

6. unless he is not the nominee

Then it will be 1.5 million voters left behind.

[JohnKleeb]

8. Not all of them are Dean or bust

I would think most of them would unite behind the nominee.

[Scott Lee]

9. I'm sure that's a possibility

but then again, so is the likelihood that simeons may displace air pressure resulting in lift while on an exit course from the lower duodenum.

[Polemonium]

13. I doubt the voters would be left behind in most cases

But the grass roots energy, well it might not be transferrable, and if it is there will probably be a big lag. Hard to say.

[Padraig18]

10. Kick

:dem:

[Bombtrack]

12. right, Dean's PRIMARY winning strategy.

There is no parallel between winning a primary and winning a general election. It's easier to win a primary it seems if your more concerned with doing that than being competative in the general.

[JPJones]

15. It's a guaranteed strategy

To waste money and lose the swing states.

[Scott Lee]

17. Seems to working so far, ne?

I don't see Dean in last place.....

*snicker*