IA caucus - Kerry 38% (winner), Edwards 32%, Dean 18% (97% reporting) (Gephardt drops out)

self

[Salvation]

Thanks!

[William McKinley]

Ahem

I still think the nominee is going to be someone you have written off. John Forbes Kerry.

But I was just outside raking up about 10 gajillion leaves, and while doing so it hit me exactly why Dean won't win if he gets the nomination, and why he probably won't even win the nomination.

He started off his campaign with a speech where he came out and said how he represents the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. He was claiming the Wellstone line as his own. But it wasn't the Wellstone mantle he was shooting for-- he was going after the people who found the Wellstone memorial to be inspiring. He was going after the people who were chanting right along with Wellstone's son, "We will win! We will win!" He has tapped into the same "energy" that energized that spectacle of the living dead desecrating the memory of one of their own.

America was repulsed by it then. They are repulsed by it now- which is why in matchup poll after matchup poll, Dean comes in below all other Democrats when put head-to-head with Bush.

I think a lot of Democrats are starting to sense it too. There has been all of this talk about Dean's momentum, but the fact is he is treading water in some places (NH, where his lead is what it was weeks ago), sinking in others (Iowa), and completely underwater in others (South Carolina)...

That was by yours truly, November 9th, 2003.

I think I'll reward meself with a beer. So if not Dean, who? Gephardt, perhaps. He would have the early win, the name recognition. But he's spent too much defending Iowa, and he has lost a few unions already. Clark? Empty suit. Edwards? Too far back in too many places. Lieberman? He's shown to have about zero support on his own. Kerry could still make it. He has the money. If he can come back on Dean in New Hampshire, he'll get an amazing amount of press for being the new comeback kid. And I think Dean will come back to the pack in New Hampshire. But I still wouldn't rule out Gore making a reappearance into things.

[DoctorZIn]

I just checked the DU and they appear top be backing Clark, Kerry and Edwards... Dean appears finished.

[ArneFufkin]

Nah, Kevin, you extortionists are through in the GOP.

[jamndad5]

About average length I suppose!

[Howlin]

Don't go there.......LOL.

[Mo1]

Edwards is the big surprise of the evening

Just last week he was at 9%

[hole_n_one]

An exact quote of Dean uttered on LKL about 5 minutes ago.

[GOPyouth]

Dave's not here.

[Howlin]

I guess Carol is now officialy OUT of government work, eh?

[Lazamataz]

Dean's in complete freefall.

[clintonh8r]

White man phone not work! Best send smoke signal!

[festus]

;Internet user:
;Dean 26% ....

Hmmmmm..... Guess we should stop trying to put computers in the hands of every school kid...........

[Howlin]

LOL!

[Salvation]

**LOL, pony tail guy on CSPAN just gave the phone number for precincts to call the state party to give the numbers.**

Unbelievable! True dims, huh?

[ctonious]

Let's help pny-tail pinhead out. If he can't get in to report results...maybe one of us could...

[Howlin]

LOL!

[mylife]

PIN 3071058 for dubuque precint....now whats that phone #??
LOL what a dope!

[JosephW]

Kerry 37.3
Edwards 32.5
Dean 18.0
Gephardt 10.9

precints 1020 of 1993

[Pukin Dog]

Edwards is too preppy to win in the South. Bush takes the South going away.