Did Anybody Else Even ASK For These Endorsements?

[rucky]

I keep seeing a connection between letter-writing campaigns and support for Dean:

SEIU endorsed Dean a few weeks after Dean For America had a union presentation campaign -where Dean supporters were encouraged to hold meetings at their local union halls.

Al Gore endorsed Dean a few weeks after a letter writing campaign to Gore was held at October's meetups. Gore's & Bradley's addresses were given out to Dean supporters at the same meetup, as was Jesse Jackson's.

Letters to voters in Iowa & New Hampshire = back in September, IIRC - led to a jump in the polls there.

This is what people do at Dean meetups. I haven't been to other candidates' meetups, so I can't really say that Dean is the ONLY one doing this, but...

Isn't it fair to give credit to coordinated grassroots efforts among Dean supporters for all of these campaign accomplishments? It's gotta be more than a coincidence.

[democratreformed]

1. Yes, it's fair

Good job, guys.

[ShimokitaJer]

2. Of course not

Don't you know that political success depends on a combination of military history and degree of appeal to southern voters? Dean's success couldn't possibly have anything to do with having a whole lot of people voluntarily giving their time to help his campaign. That's not how politics works. It must be the fact that the media has given him a free ride because they think he's like Bush and secretly want Bush to win and Rove has decided that Dean is the weakest candidate so they all secretly support him because they know he's going to lose and are propping him up in Iowa so the Democratic party can be destroyed and the Republicans can rule the world forever and ever.

People volunteering and donating money? Who the hell pays attention to that anymore?

[adadem]

3. It was a very smart move

Although I don't support Dean this was a smart tactical move for the campaign to get undecided politicians on board.

[mopinko]

4. exactly

this is called campaigning. one of the reasons i like dean is that he asked me, and other people like me for $50, instead of kissing up to some fat cat for a fat check. but he also has said, since i started listening, that the unions built the middle class in this country, and tied the race to the bottom in this economy to the union meltdown.

[dave29]

5. wow - the novelty of it all

politicians being courted by a large group of citizens rather than small group of lobbyists - it must be kind of refreshing :)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

6. I hope that these supporters will stick around to help after this

I've been beating the drum over and over again about how us Progressives needs to start writing letters and "doing things" rther than just sitting back, watching ourselves get "beat up" and whining. Kudos to the people who are doing something.

LOet's start making a habit out of this.

[dave29]

7. Clark's response to Bradley endorsement:

One of Dean's rivals, Wesley Clark (news - web sites), dismissed the endorsement while campaigning Monday in New Hampshire. "The people in New Hampshire pick presidents. They don't need people to tell them what to do," Clark said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&e=1&u=/ap/20040105/ap_on_el_pr/dean_bradley

I'm sorry, but that sounds a bit snippy, does it not? Nobody is commanding anyone to vote for Dean - everybody relishes an endorsement when it's for them. It's not like Clark doesn't try to flaunt Clinton every chance he gets.

I thought he was taking the high road, anyway.

[KittyWampus]

8. A More Realistic View

The Unions had been looking closely & favorably at Clark but had to go with Dean cause Clark didn't do Iowa.
Dean had been courting Gore WAY before any letters were written.

Most likely the letters both Dean AND Clark supporters write have less of an effect on endorsements then we think.

Now those letters to VOTERS that campaign volunteers write.... those seem to have a bit more of a punch IMO.