Howard Dean

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

February 2003

DEAN said GWB’s fight against terrorism is failing because his energy policy doesn’t reduce dependence on foreign oil. He said Americans are indirectly funding terrorism by buying oil from Saudi Arabia, which in turn supports Hamas and other terrorist groups who “teach children to hate Americans, Christians and Jews.” DEAN, addressing about 65 people at an Environmental Grantwriters Association luncheon, said the GWB environmental record is “the weakest and the worst of all things he has done as president.” (AP, 2/5)

In the Battle of New Hampshire Neighbors, DEAN is No. 2 among likely voters in the Democratic primary – but is doing well among independent voters. A recent American Research Group poll indicated that KERRY was leading DEAN 27-25 among likely Democratic voters. But, according to an AP report out of Concord, DEAN had “a slight edge among the 38 percent of registered New Hampshire voters who identify themselves as independents – and the state lets independents vote in either party’s primary.” EDITOR’S NOTE: American Research surveyed 600 registered Democrats and undeclared voters in New Hampshire who said they vote in most Democratic primary elections. The margin of error for the poll, conducted Jan. 7-10, was plus or minus 4 percentage points. (AP, 2/5)

DEAN continues to be isolated from the other Dems on Iraq policy. He was “the only Democratic candidate to say Secretary of State Colin Powell failed Wednesday to show cause for war with Iraq.” DEAN, in a telephone interview with Des Moines Register: “My position hasn’t changed…there’s not been the case made to act unilaterally.” GEPHARDT said Powell’s presentation was an “important step in holding together that alliance…Iraq is the only party that can avoid war by doing what it should have done years ago.” (Staff writer Thomas Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 2/6)

Under the heading, HILLARY Clinton Leads Dem Pack for President, the national Quinnipiac University poll finds that HILLARY gets 42 percent of Democratic vote, compared to 15 percent for her nearest rival, LIEBERMAN. KERRY and GEPHARDT get 11 percent each, followed by EDWARDS with 7%, DEAN 3% and SHARPTON 2%. The director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, Maurice Carroll, said, “Put Sen. HILLARY Clinton in the mix -- even though she says she is not running for President – and she sweeps the Democratic field.” MORE: Without HILLARY, the 2000 vice presidential candidate leads the pack with 27 percent, KERRY has 18 percent, and GEPHARDT 16%, EDWARDS 14%, SHARPTON 6% and DEAN 3%.
NOTE: From 1/29-2/3. Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,307 American voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent. The survey includes 441 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4/7 percent. (Quinnipiac University news release, www.quinnipiac.edu, 2/6)

“On a New Hampshire Web site dedicated to the 2004 race, almost a third of the 105 top party activists had chosen a candidate. KERRY and EDWARDS had nine apiece, GEPHARDT six, DEAN and LIEBERMAN three and former NATO commander Wesley CLARK, who is not currently a candidate, one.” (Will Lester, AP, 2/7)

From an Associated Press summary of political situation in the “early” states: “IOWA: The state that holds caucuses tentatively set for Jan. 19, 2004, is drawing plenty of attention from the field. Some have been surprised at the effort put in by Massachusetts Sen. John KERRY after Missouri Rep. Dick GEPHARDT was believed to have the early advantage. With strong ties to labor and Midwestern roots, GEPHARDT could expect to have a big advantage in Iowa. But KERRY has been in “a full-court press” in the state, said state Democratic chairman Gordon Fischer. A poll done for an interest group recently showed GEPHARDT and KERRY in the lead, though polling for the caucuses is difficult…. Former Vermont Gov. Howard DEAN is spending more time in the early states than any of the better-known candidates and could be a factor…. Valuable endorsements could come from either Gov. Tom Vilsack or Sen. Tom Harkin, but both will probably wait until later to decide what they will do.” (AP, 2/7)

DEAN “criticized his rivals for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination Saturday (2/8) for their positions on potential war with Iraq and continued his attack on President Bush’s handling of the crisis. DEAN said it was disingenuous for Democrats who voted for a resolution authorizing use of force in Iraq to criticize Bush’s war posture while campaigning for president.” EDWARDS, GEPHARDT, KERRY voted for the resolution. (Thomas Beaumont, Des Moines Sunday Register, 2/9)

“It is, of course, premature to speculate whether the war issue will still have political traction in next winter’s caucuses. An easy military victory in Iraq…could leave the doubters on the wrong side of history. But at the moment, the under funded DEAN shares an important distinction with Massachusetts Sen. John KERRY. They are the only Democrats with strong support in both Iowa and the first primary state, New Hampshire.” (Walter Shapiro, Des Moines dateline, USA TODAY, 2/12)

Greg Pierce reports the “Democratic presidential hopefuls are busy trying to win the hearts of Hollywood’s liberal elite.” He wrote that, according to the Los Angeles Times, Rob Reiner arrived at his office the day after Al GORE bowed out of the 2004 presidential race he found three messages awaiting – from DEAN, KERRY and LIEBERMAN. Reiner also has visited with EDWARDS and GEPHARDT. (Greg Pierce, Inside Politics, The Washington Times, 2/12)

“War looms on the horizon, terrorism remains a grave threat, the stock market is sunk in a quagmire and states around the country are plagued by massive budget deficits. But what issue is embroiling the Democrats battling (fiercely, though 12 months before the first primary?) for their party’s presidential nomination? The Confederate flag.” DEAN says he’ll “defer to black advisers” about how to handle the NAACP economic boycott in South Carolina, SHARPTON says he’ll honor the boycott but will campaign vigorously in the state…EDWARDS said he will personally honor the boycott by sleeping in private homes – a symbolic show of solidarity – but his aides are free to eat and sleep wherever they choose.” (Columnist Eric Fettmann, New York Post, www.nypost.com, 2/13)

Associated Press reported that Iowa AFL-CIO president Mark Smith was “bombarded with candidates’ requests” to address the (2/17) annual legislative conference in Altoona. Smith said: “When presidential candidates heard that there were going to be 100-plus union members, they said ‘Oh, can we address it?” I was going to allow that. But pretty soon, you’ve got four of them, and you screw up your whole conference.” LIEBERMAN, EDWARDS, DEAN and KUCINICH were expected to attend the event, which was scheduled to be shown live on C-SPAN. KERRY (who’s recovering from surgery), GEPHARDT and SHARPTON also inquired about attending. (AP Washington, 2/15)

The non-HILLARY?  An Associated Press dispatch datelined Shelburne, Vermont, says Judy DEAN will continue her medical career in Washington if husband Howard is elected. The AP report: “In the nearly dozen years that Howard DEAN served as governor of Vermont, Judy DEAN was all but invisible. No speeches. No interviews. No campaigning…Dr. Judy DEAN this month gave her first extensive interview…But she still has no plans to join her husband on the campaign trail, and even if he is elected, she plans to continue practicing medicine.” Howard DEAN said: “That doesn’t mean she will never go to a state dinner, but I don’t see her job as an entertainer.” (Christopher Graff byline, AP, 2/15)

“In what may be a preview of the debate ahead, a senior advisor to a Democratic presidential contender who supports military action against Iraq immediately disparaged [DEAN’s] proposal as ‘dangerously naïve’.”…”That completely ignores the past 12 years,” the advisor said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “DEAN is treating this as if there has been no record of deception, and no record of brutality…It begs the question of how many more chances we want to give Saddam Hussein to attack us or destabilize the region.” (Ronald Brownstein, coverage of DEAN’s first major policy speech of his campaign at Drake University in Des Moines, Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com, 2/17)

KERRY on his prostate surgery – and presidential opponent: “I wasn’t worried until they told me the assisting physician for my surgery was Dr. Howard DEAN.” (Washington Whispers, U. S. News, www.usnews.com, 2/17)

Four Dems appeared before more than 150 Iowa labor union activists at the Iowa Federation of Labor’s annual legislative conference in Altoona. “U. S. Sens. John EDWARDS of North Carolina and Joseph LIEBERMAN told…labor activists that their support for a resolution backing a possible U. S. -led war in Iraq is not subject to political pressure…But, U. S. Rep. Dennis KUCINICH of Ohio and former Vermont Gov. Howard DEAN denounced the Bush administration’s policy toward the pending crisis over United Nations weapons inspections as unilateral and damaging to relations with allies.” (Thomas Beaumont, The Des Moines Register, 2/18)

“The Democrats are coming, the Democrats are coming – Democratic presidential wannabes, that is, who are leaving the campaign trail ever so briefly to address the party leadership in Washington. Always looking to make a buck, the financially depleted Democratic National Committee, we’re told, is preparing to peddle an ‘exclusive video’ of the 2004 declared candidates ‘going head to head’: Howard DEAN, John EDWARDS, Dick GEPHARDT, John KERRY, Joe LIEBERMAN, Al SHARPTON and perhaps Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN. The DNC will sell the video for a ‘contribution’ of $75, which by the way is not tax deductible.” (John McCaslin, Inside the Beltway, The Washington Times, 2/18)

 Headline on www.latimes.com: “Reiner Endorses DEAN for President…The actor-director’s backing is a big boost for the little-known Democratic candidate.” Rachel Abramowitz reports that DEAN’s “active opposition to the American-led war on Iraq has earned him an early boost in Hollywood’s presidential sweepstakes, in the form of an endorsement by director and key Democratic activist Rob Reiner – which was quoted as saying, “My urgency to support him right now is to give him as big a forum as possible so that his views can be heard. It’s a very dangerous time.” Abramowitz wrote: “Given Hollywood’s balkanized, competitive nature, it is difficult for any activist to magnetize the entire community. Yet Reiner’s endorsement had been sought by several Democratic presidential candidates because of his energetic advocacy. In the last presidential campaign, he hosted or co-hosted at least a dozen fund-raisers for former Vice President Al Gore, including one that raised $4.5 million.” (Rachel Abramowitz, Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com, 2/20)

Is something missing here – like a prospective Dem presidential candidate most Democrats have a favorable impression of as their nominee?  The latest CNN-TIME poll indicates that less that half of the nation’s leading Democrats (49%) have a favorable view of LIEBERMAN, who also – and ironically -- ranks as their top presidential prospect. The CNN-TIME poll, according to an Associated Press report, indicated that LIEBERMAN topped the Dems with 16% while GEPHARDT had 13%. Others: KERRY at 8%, EDWARDS and SHARPTON at 7%, MOSELEY-BRAUN at 4%, DEAN and GRAHAM at 3% and KUCINICH 2%. But, the CNN-TIME poll of 529 Democrats or those who lean Democrat (margin of error: +/- 4%) indicated that HILLARY was viewed favorably by 72% while LIEBERMAN got a 49% favorable and GEPHARDT was at 41% favorable. (CNN/TIME/AP, CNN-TIME survey, www.cnn.com, www.time.com, 2/21)

“WASHINGTON – Dennis J. KUCINICH for president? Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN? Al SHARPTON? Howard DEAN and Gary HART, for that matter? On paper, anyway, none of these presidential hopefuls stirs visions of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR or even Bill Clinton. Yet each has either jumped into the race for the 2004 Democratic nomination and is poised on the brink – this season’s versions of Gary Bauer, Steve Forbes, Alan Keyes and all the other forgettables of previous presidential years.” (Jules Witcover, The Baltimore Sun, www.sunspot.net, 2/21)

“The Democrats’ bitter split over Iraq broke wide open yesterday at their winter meeting when presidential candidate Howard DEAN won standing ovations as he sharply rebuked party leaders and his political rivals for backing President Bush’s war policies. The long-simmering division in the party over whether to go to war to disarm Saddam Hussein erupted at the second day of the Democratic National Committee’s gathering to preview its presidential contenders, who denounced many of Mr. Bush’s policies and vowed to defeat him in 2004.” (Donald Lambro, The Washington Times, www.washingtontimes.com, 2/22)

Veteran Washington journalist Donald Lambro on the DNC winter meeting: Democratic strategist Donna Brazile said that “Dean won the day hands down,” adding that his feisty delivery and anti-war rhetoric “could carry the day in many state primaries.” But she did not see his anti-war agenda “winning the White House, because people want to be sure that we protect our national security and our homeland.” (Donald Lambro, www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times, 2/22)

Los Angeles Times coverage, by Staff Writer Mark Z. Barabak, of the first day of Dem appearances before the DNC in Washington: “LIEBERMAN, the party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee, accused Bush of breaking a slew if campaign promises, including his vow to set a new, less antagonistic tone in Washington. GEPHARDT contrasted his humble upbringing with Bush’s background, and said the country needs a president ‘who understands the life experience of ordinary Americans.’ DEAN asserted Bush was playing racial politics by opposing affirmative action programs, and MOSELEY-BRAUN claimed he was robbing future generations to pay for tax cuts.” (Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com, 2/22)

Commentary on the Dems at the DNC winter meeting: “DEAN’s presentation included attacking tax cuts and school choice, with a little race-baiting on top. Following his performance, DEAN was being compared to another little-known governor who became president in 1976: Jimmy Carter. And we all know how that turned out.” (Chuck Muth’s News & Views, 2/23)

  Ten years after Bill Clinton’s attempt to remake the health-care system nearly capsized his presidency, the cause of guaranteeing universal access to health coverage is emerging as a centerpiece of the Democratic strategy for recapturing the White House in 2004. Rep. Richard GEPHARDT (D-Mo.) last week formally launched his presidential campaign with a simple but sweeping and potentially vastly expensive plan to guarantee coverage to all employed Americans through tax credits for employers. Former Vermont Gov. Howard DEAN, another contender for the 2004 nomination, already has offered a plan to dramatically expand coverage. And the other leading Democratic hopefuls are all devising their own alternatives.” (Ronald Brownstein, Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com, 2/24)

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