Dean Sees Silver Lining in Second Place

Once the undisputed leader in New Hampshire polls, Howard Dean on Tuesday pronounced his second-place finish good enough to propel him forward to claim the Democratic nomination as an outsider.

“I think the only way we’re going to beat George Bush is for someone to come from outside Washington,” Dean said, a not-so-subtle criticism of New Hampshire victor John Kerry and other rivals for the nomination.

Just two weeks ago Dean held a double-digit advantage in polls of New Hampshire voters, but his lead evaporated in the wake of a distant third-place showing in Iowa and a screaming concession speech.

Dean, a former governor of neighboring Vermont, was hoping for a strong second-place finish that would help him recover his battered image and diminished war chest. Dean said he couldn’t overcome the Iowa loss or relentless criticism he received as the one-time front-runner in time to win New Hampshire.

Dean spokeswoman Tricia Enright predicted Kerry would face similar treatment now that he’s a two-state winner.

“We’ll see if John Kerry can take the number of body blows that Howard Dean did and still be standing,” Enright said.

With the next round of voting just seven days away, Dean will spend Wednesday huddled with staff in his hometown of Burlington, Vt., plotting strategy. He’ll also spend four hours on television interviews being sent by satellite to 12 upcoming primary states.

Dean plans to devote at least two days competing with South Carolina favorite John Edwards, a senator from neighboring North Carolina. Dean plans to campaign Thursday in Greenville, site of a debate that evening, then Friday in the Columbia area.

Then he plans to split his time between states that hold their votes next Tuesday and some that hold later nominating contests. Early plans call for him to visit St. Louis, Albuquerque, N.M. and Phoenix, which the campaign considers some of his strongest base of support on Feb. 3, but also visit Seattle, Madison, Wis., Detroit and Lansing, Mich.

Michigan and Washington state hold caucuses on Feb. 7. Wisconsin’s primary is 10 days later.

“We’re optimistic,” Dean told supporters from 25 states in a conference call Tuesday night. “We’ve got a full schedule for the next 10 days in 12 states.”

A senior Dean adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several Dean advisers had urged Dean to pick fewer targets, cherrypicking a few states to conserve resources. But the former governor vetoed the strategy, insisting that his campaign was muscular enough to compete nationally.

Dean raised more than $200,000 in the 24 hours before the primary, but he has been spending money just as fast – and he will keep up the pricey pace with his new strategy.

He will bypass Oklahoma, North Dakota and Delaware, three of the cheaper states.

An exit poll conducted for The Associated Press showed Dean was very strong among New Hampshire voters who consider themselves very liberal, were opposed to the war, were angry at Bush, and who thought the most important candidate quality was standing up for what they believe. He lagged behind Kerry among voters who most wanted a candidate who could beat Bush and a candidate who had the most experience.

A third of voters said they do not think Dean has the temperament to be president.

While Kerry had a 3-1 lead among those who decided in the last week, Dean and Kerry were about even among those who decided in the last three days, suggesting Dean was able to stop the sliding that started after the Iowa loss and his bellowing speech.

Dean told his supporters to stick with him

“We aren’t quitting, don’t you quit.”

—

On the Net:

http://www.deanforamerica.com