2004 political presidential cartoons about Iowa primary precinct caucus and caucuses news, reports information on 2004 Democrat and Republican candidates, campaigns issues
"Can He Be Stopped?"
Howard Dean political cartoon.
… Analysts say other wannabes may have to confront Dean before he pulls too far ahead of them. Headline from yesterday’s Christian Science Monitor: “Democratic race pivots on Dean…rivals may focus as much on the Vermonter as on Bush.” (Editor’s Note: The following report, obviously, was written before last night’s Dem debate, but the content and observations are worthwhile.) Excerpt from coverage by the Monitor’s Liz Mariantes: “With the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination now in the decisive fall campaign season, the growing dominance of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is changing the dynamics of the race. In a field characterized for months by evenly matched contenders - and no real stars - Dr. Dean is suddenly setting the pace, presenting his opponents with both a standard and a target. Already, candidates such as Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry are stepping up their criticisms of Dean, even as they scramble to adopt some of his tactics. The attacks are likely to take a more pointed tone beginning [last night], when all nine candidates assemble in New Mexico for the first of six fall debates. For rivals looking to topple the surging Dean, the debates may provide a singular opportunity - as one famously did for Vice President Walter Mondale in 1984 when he brought a halt to Sen. Gary Hart's surging campaign with his pointed line, ‘Where's the beef?’ Yet the candidates face significant risks in trying to bring Dean down - and most are likely to approach the task with caution. Not only can attacks easily tar the person launching them as much as their intended object, they could also inflame Dean's supporters. Still, analysts say Dean's mounting strength may well force his rivals to confront him directly before he pulls too far ahead. ‘Right now, Dean has the momentum, and it's not apparent that momentum can be broken unless he screws up - or unless his opponents raise or point to an issue that puts him on the defensive,’ says Stuart Rothenberg, a political analyst. Most rival campaigns profess themselves unconcerned by Dean's apparent strength. Although polls show the former governor with widening leads in key primary states such as New Hampshire and Iowa, some argue much of this momentum can be attributed to Dean's early spate of TV advertising -- a move other candidates are only now following. In national surveys, however, Dean still trails the better-known Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Rep. Richard Gephardt among registered Democrats…Regardless of which candidate is most threatened, analysts agree that the rest of the field is now essentially fighting to become the alternative to Dean - which means the fight will likely take a sharper turn. ‘It will get a good deal more nasty because now the battle is for second place,’ says Emmett Buell, an expert on the primary process at Denison University. The candidate who successfully claims that position, Professor Buell notes, ‘might well have a better chance’ of winning in the end, particularly if Dean stumbles or is unable to convince voters of his electability in a matchup with President Bush.”