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What A Long Strange Trippi It’s Been
By Matt Margolis | January 28, 2004
From frontrunner to “underdog,” Howard Dean is just losing face everyday.
He counted on Iowa… he lost.
He counted on New Hampshire… he lost again.
And bye-bye goes Joe Trippi, Dean’s campaign manager up to this point.
Democrat Howard Dean shook up his faltering bid for the White House on Wednesday, replacing his campaign manager with a former Washington lobbyist tied to Al Gore.
In a further sign of distress, the one-time front-runner implemented cost-cutting measures as he looked ahead to a series of costly primaries and caucuses, asking staff to defer their paychecks for two weeks.
Dean aide Kate O’Conner said the former Vermont governor wanted Roy Neel to take over office operations under the title of chief executive officer. She said Dean asked campaign manager Joe Trippi to stay on as a campaign strategist who also would run the Internet operations, but Trippi quit instead of accepting the demotion.
Perhaps Dean should have fired himself.
Dean publicly and privately expressed his determination to remain in the race. At the same time, in a conference call with members of Congress who have endorsed him, he was told bluntly that finishing second wasn’t good enough - that he had to show he could win a primary.
“He said he understood,” said one lawmaker involved in the call.
Dean’s campaign chairman Steve Grossman also said Wednesday that the candidate must win a presidential primary in the next two weeks to keep even his most loyal donor base - those giving modest amounts over the Web - contributing enough to make him financially competitive.
Sorry to say this, but it just isn’t looking good for Dean…I can hear the Deaniacs now: “We need another bat!”
It’s going to take a lot more than a fundraising bat on Dean For America to repair this campaign.
Dean campaign officials said the move is a sign of former Vice President Gore’s growing influence in the campaign. The 2000 Democratic presidential nominee had recommended that Neel play a larger role, officials said.
Neel, Gore’s former senatorial chief of staff, served as chief executive of the U.S. Telecom Association in Washington before working on Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign. Neel was named to head Gore’s transition team in anticipation of the former vice president winning the White House.
From one loser to the next.
Topics: In The News |
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January 29th, 2004 at 12:01 am
Unfortunately Dean is losing it. I want Dean to win the nomination for two reasons: Dean can’t touch Bush with a 6 foot stick, and Dean is hilarious.
I suppose Kerry has as much of a chance at victory as Dean, though.
January 29th, 2004 at 12:20 am
Deferring paychecks? Maybe not a great idea to announce both that and the change in management on the same day. Sends a spinning-out-of-control message to all the Deniacs.
January 29th, 2004 at 4:28 pm
Matt,
As much as I dislike Dean, let’s remember that Iowa and New Hampshire are only TWO states out of fifty. I don’t see Dean dropping out of this race any time soon, as arrogant as he is. Keep your money on Edwards, Lieberman, Sharpton and Kucinich dropping out first. Next Tuesday could be the end for Edwards, as many of his people in SC feel that he has abandoned them for a run for the White House.
January 29th, 2004 at 5:58 pm
I don’t think either Sharpton or Kucinich are going to drop out. They’re also somewhat delusional, so…I wouldn’t put any money on them.
I don’t know if Lieberman is going to be able to pull it out or not. As for Edwards, he seems to be able to charm the crowds, so I dunno about him.
January 30th, 2004 at 1:40 am
I don’t see Sharpton or Kucinich dropping out until at least Mar 2nd when Calif and NY have their primaries. They have the strongest bases there. Sharpton will barter any NY delegates in a shakedown attempt. Kucinich will “share the vibes” with his SF Bay delegates.