Dean visiting GOP strongholds (KS Governor Won't Meet with Howie)

cnn.com ^ | February 24, 2005 | John Mercurio

[prairiebreeze]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean on Thursday began a two-day visit to the GOP stronghold of Kansas, hoping to erase the notion that his party has surrendered so-called "red states" to Republicans. ~~snip

He is also scheduled to attend a fund-raiser in Lawrence, which sponsors hope will raise as much as $40,000 for the state party. ~~snip

Earlier this week, he spoke in New York. Dean is likely to face a mixed reception in Kansas, which at 43 percent trails only Nebraska and Utah in the percentage of population registered as Republicans. The state hasn't gone for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, and President Bush beat John Kerry among Kansans in November by 25 percentage points. That, Dean said, is precisely why he's traveling there. "I don't think Democrats are ever going to be a national party unless we bring our message to every state, and that includes Kansas," he told the Kansas City Star. Some local Democrats appear unconvinced. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat who scored a surprising win in 2002 but is a top GOP target next year, won't appear with Dean during his two-day visit. An aide noted that Sebelius remained neutral in the DNC race and backed Kerry in the presidential primary. Rep. Dennis Moore, the state's only congressional Democrat, is traveling out of the country and won't return until next week. A Moore spokeswoman declined to comment on Dean's trip. Aides to other Kansas Democrats, including state Sen. Janice Lee and Kansas City Mayor Carol Marinovich, also declined to comment on Dean's visit. Dean is likely to face a similar reception next week in Mississippi, where Rep. Gene Taylor, the state's only white Democrat in Congress, has been openly critical of his party's new chairman.

[prairiebreeze]

Rep. Dennis Moore, the state's only congressional Democrat, is traveling out of the country and won't return until next week. A Moore spokeswoman declined to comment on Dean's trip.

Aides to other Kansas Democrats, including state Sen. Janice Lee and Kansas City Mayor Carol Marinovich, also declined to comment on Dean's visit.

Democrats know their place in my native Kansas it seems. Heh.

[areafiftyone]

He may be visiting GOP strongholds but the crowds are just DUmmies, Deaniacs and Leftists! The MSM is acting like hordes of Republicans are running to see Dean!

[lnbchip]

I expect to hear that Dean was sent marching in the streets ringing a bell and shouting "UNCLEAN-UNCLEAN" like any good leper would.

It's hilarious to see this kook shunned.

[cweese]

"I don't think Democrats are ever going to be a national party unless we bring our message to every state, and that includes Kansas,"

Hey Howie, everyone knows the message of the dems. They don't have one.

[zygoat]

He announces publicly that he hates republicans and everything about us, and then travels to GOP strongholds on an asinine mission to win hearts and minds. This can't be real...the democrat party is purposely trying to destroy itself. Why?

[newgeezer]

President Bush beat John Kerry among Kansans in November by 25 percentage points. That, Dean said, is precisely why he's traveling there. "I don't think Democrats are ever going to be a national party unless we bring our message to every state, and that includes Kansas," he told the Kansas City Star.

Spending his time and DNC money going to places they can't possibly win is great news indeed.

Go, Howie, GO!!!!

[newgeezer]

Added KS to the TOPICS list for our FRiends who monitor Kansas news in the sidebar.

[staytrue]

I would not laugh about this. Republicans are mounting a full court press in every state including CA, MA, and MD and all three have high profile republican governors and are gaining ground in the legislature's too.
Dean is right on this one. Concede no state to the opposition.

[prairiebreeze]

Thanks for the topics addition.

[Lee Heggy]

Preaching to the choir in Lawrence won't change a thing for the Dems. It's a fundraiser not a crusade.

[twigs]

I agree. I think that dean could potentially be more of a threat than we give him credit for. Yes, he screamed, but I think that the press blew that out of proportion. He's out there getting students fired up to volunteer on dem campaigns. He's opposed the national dem line about SS; he admits that it needs fixing. If Dean can keep himself from doing and saying the stupid things he is wont to do, he will be a much more effective leader than McAuliff. Well, I guess anyone would have been. But Dean might just be able to get out the party faithful. We need to watch him closely.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Kiss of death.

[reformedliberal]

While I am never complacent, I am not worried about Dean's ability to get students out to work for the party. Today's college freshman will be a senior in 08 and concerned with job fairs and employment interviews. Students did help the Donks here in WI last year by double registering and multiple voting. This is now the object of a joint Federal/State investigation and the very process should deter some of that behavior in 06 and 08.

Today's 17-year-olds will be able to vote in 06 and 15-year-olds will be able to vote in 08. From what I can tell from observation and reading, there are a lot of conservative high schoolers out there. I know that my best volunteers in the 04 campaign were in their early 20s. I would love to see some honest youth polls concerning the political persuasions of 15-20-year-olds.

I hear a lot of people under 40 wondering out loud how f'n won WI in 04. They tell me:"Everyone I ask voted for Bush."

Dean can mobilize the Greens and the radical left. Neither is even a demographic majority among their peers. Our side's youth, OTOH, seems a lot more committed and capable of real work. The ones I worked with were capable, efficient and focused. They also stayed positive and had boundless energy.

JMO.

[Crazieman]

Hahaha! Right now, Sebelius still stands a chance - provided the usual electorate doesn't respond to the conceal carry veto.

Dean would be the kiss of death to her. She's pretty smart.

[Bahbah]

Democrats know their place in my native Kansas it seems.

Hehe, Washburn and Lawrence, not exactly enemy territory.

[Stellar Dendrite]

" He is also scheduled to attend a fund-raiser in Lawrence"

Those who aren't familiar with Kansas should know that Lawrence is a total hippie college town (home to the University of Kansas), where liberals reign supreme.

[Stellar Dendrite]

In fact, the anti-tobacco Nazis enacted a smoking ban for bars and restaraunts.

[eyespysomething]

They're taking over the Republican party (shhhh).

[CommerceComet]

Sebelius wouldn't have won last time if the country-club Republicans (and I use the term loosely) had stayed on board.

[hosepipe]

[ That, Dean said, is precisely why he's traveling there. "I don't think Democrats are ever going to be a national party unless we bring our message to every state, and that includes Kansas," ]

DEMOCRATS HAVE A MESSAGE.?....

Since when, where have I been.. Have I been kidnaped and drugged..?.. Just awoke from a coma.?..WHAT?..

{hold it}..Calling my friends to find out whats happened to me..