Dean dream disintegrates

MADISON, Wisconsin – From virtual nobody to front-running Internet whiz to screaming voice of defiance to also ran, Democrat Howard Dean has had more highs and lows in a year than most politicians experience in an entire career.

He exits the active race – unwillingly – certain in the knowledge that he will live on in the annals of US politics for shattering Democratic fund-raising records with US$41 million collected in a single year – as well as on late-night television and Internet parodies for a high-octane concession speech on the night of the Iowa caucuses that he’s likely never to live down. The former Vermont governor is the political equivalent of a supernova.Once a long-shot candidate, the Internet phenomenon filled his campaign coffers and attracted thousands of supporters through the spring and summer, pushing him to the head of the crowded Democratic field.The leader in national polls – and more important state polls in the first states of Iowa and New Hampshire – Dean seemed poised to win the nomination in a runaway.In the end, he never won a single state through 17 contests.His exit strategy still undecided, Dean flew back to Vermont after the Wisconsin defeat to plot his next steps.Historians will judge, but Dean and his devoted supporters are convinced that they more than anyone else defined the Democratic debate through his unwavering criticism of President George W Bush, the Iraq war and Democrats who helped Bush push his agenda through Congress.”Because of your work, we have already written the Democratic Party platform,” Dean declared on Monday night at an exuberant rally that hearkened to the heady days when he was more focused on a running mate than exiting the race.For that latter part of 2003 and the early days of this year, Dean seemed untouchable, emerging from miscues and gaffes with yet another fund-raising record or high-profile endorsement.Nothing could dissuade the 640 000 people who joined his campaign via his Web site.They contributed US$41 million last year and then pumped millions more this year into a campaign that was faltering even before Iowans dealt the first blow.Dean was the most unlikely of heroes for this movement of liberals, disaffected voters and youth.Born to wealth on New York’s Park Avenue, his Yale pedigree was much closer to Bush’s than the working people to whom he said he was giving voice.As he left the Vermont governor’s office in January 2003 after nearly 12 years, Dean had a presidential campaign staff of six and about US$157 000 in the bank.But one of those staffers had found a then-obscure Internet organising site, known as MeetUp.com.Dean became the first political candidate to sign up for it and suddenly thousands of people were finding him, organising local events and fund-raisers and slowly making him a force.His blunt speaking style and full-throated opposition to the Iraq war at a time when almost all of the other major contenders were trying to explain their support for it gave him an edge.Even then he was little more than an afterthought, but he had raised enough money to begin competing and was relentless in appearing everywhere he could.By February last year, he had begun focusing his criticism not just on Bush but on fellow Democrats, accusing them of being too timid in fighting for the party’s core principles.Even at that early stage there were signs of Dean’s penchant for speaking before all the facts were straight.While it always appeared that Dean could emerge unscathed from the missteps, ultimately, it added up and voters decided to go with a familiar Washington face.By the time the Iowa votes were counted, Dean had finished a distant third behind Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Edwards.It was the first election loss of his 20-year career.Then Dean ended his full-throttle concession speech with a scream that has played endlessly on the Internet and late-night talk shows.- Nampa-APThe former Vermont governor is the political equivalent of a supernova. Once a long-shot candidate, the Internet phenomenon filled his campaign coffers and attracted thousands of supporters through the spring and summer, pushing him to the head of the crowded Democratic field. The leader in national polls – and more important state polls in the first states of Iowa and New Hampshire – Dean seemed poised to win the nomination in a runaway. In the end, he never won a single state through 17 contests. His exit strategy still undecided, Dean flew back to Vermont after the Wisconsin defeat to plot his next steps. Historians will judge, but Dean and his devoted supporters are convinced that they more than anyone else defined the Democratic debate through his unwavering criticism of President George W Bush, the Iraq war and Democrats who helped Bush push his agenda through Congress. “Because of your work, we have already written the Democratic Party platform,” Dean declared on Monday night at an exuberant rally that hearkened to the heady days when he was more focused on a running mate than exiting the race. For that latter part of 2003 and the early days of this year, Dean seemed untouchable, emerging from miscues and gaffes with yet another fund-raising record or high-profile endorsement. Nothing could dissuade the 640 000 people who joined his campaign via his Web site. They contributed US$41 million last year and then pumped millions more this year into a campaign that was faltering even before Iowans dealt the first blow. Dean was the most unlikely of heroes for this movement of liberals, disaffected voters and youth. Born to wealth on New York’s Park Avenue, his Yale pedigree was much closer to Bush’s than the working people to whom he said he was giving voice. As he left the Vermont governor’s office in January 2003 after nearly 12 years, Dean had a presidential campaign staff of six and about US$157 000 in the bank. But one of those staffers had found a then-obscure Internet organising site, known as MeetUp.com. Dean became the first political candidate to sign up for it and suddenly thousands of people were finding him, organising local events and fund-raisers and slowly making him a force. His blunt speaking style and full-throated opposition to the Iraq war at a time when almost all of the other major contenders were trying to explain their support for it gave him an edge. Even then he was little more than an afterthought, but he had raised enough money to begin competing and was relentless in appearing everywhere he could. By February last year, he had begun focusing his criticism not just on Bush but on fellow Democrats, accusing them of being too timid in fighting for the party’s core principles. Even at that early stage there were signs of Dean’s penchant for speaking before all the facts were straight. While it always appeared that Dean could emerge unscathed from the missteps, ultimately, it added up and voters decided to go with a familiar Washington face. By the time the Iowa votes were counted, Dean had finished a distant third behind Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Edwards. It was the first election loss of his 20-year career. Then Dean ended his full-throttle concession speech with a scream that has played endlessly on the Internet and late-night talk shows. – Nampa-AP