So the predictions I posted earlier today held true. Interesting. I couldn't care less about Kerry, as he is not only uninspiring but totally lacks any charisma or ideas. I am really glad for Edwards. He is charming and ran a positive campaign. I just hope Dean falls.
I hope Clark does well in NH.
Three man race. Kerry, Edwards, Clark.
Put a fork in him, Dean is done. Iowa is really not that important, but the voters made clear that the one rabidly anti-war candidate may be too leftist to be elected, and the caucuses focused on electability above all.
Dean spent a ton of money, Kerry spent a ton of money. Edwards could be the next big suprise, as he has a great deal of charisma. Kerry will be expected to win NH, as it is next dor to his home state. A good showing by Edwards in NH will indicate a southerner who can win liberal states, and that bodes well for the deep south and California.
In Iowa you need a big expensive organization. Clark is missing out on a lot of face time by not running.
Given how little he spent, and how weak his organization is, Edwards is the real winner. He has the momentum.
I think Kerry can only win if people vote against everyone else. I don’t think most Kerry “voters” are actually voting for Kerry. Once that realization is made maybe they’ll vote Edwards or Clark as their “anyone but” man? Those are the two I’d favor, more towards Edwards than Clark. Lieberman’ll prolly drop out after SC.. too stubborn to give up straight after NH. I think Dean’s bubble just burst, though. It’s been a slow process but people are finally starting to feel comfortable rejecting his messiah complex with the evidence of Iowa to back them up. Expect more shunning of Dean and more frothing from him.
What’s going to be interesting is to see where the losers throw their weight. Edwards was helped in Iowa by Kucinich’s slim minority.. if he picks up some of Gephardt’s crowd and Lieberman’s he’ll be a force in the field. Though I think Gep’s fogeys will lean towards Kerry.
..oh, did you see that Dean offered free babysitting for Iowa caucus goers? What kind of nuts would trust their kids with Dean supporters?!
Oh my. Dean loses it…
Dean Loses It
Yes, the caucus — and his self-control, too.
Finishing third in a contest that just a few weeks earlier he had been expected to win handily is surely a setback for the campaign of Howard Dean. But in the long run, Dean’s Iowa concession speech, in which he appeared to lose control of himself and began screaming at supporters — all in front of dozens of television cameras — may be even more damaging.
Dean’s speech, delivered at his headquarters in Des Moines, stunned even some observers used to his displays of anger on the campaign trail. And in the days after the caucuses it is sure to spark discussion of Dean’s emotional intensity and whether such intensity should be a disqualifying characteristic for a potential president.
The speech didn’t start badly. Although Dean appeared oddly exuberant after what was an extraordinarily disappointing finish, that might easily be attributed to a politician’s desire to put a publicly positive face on bad news. “You know something?” Dean asked his fans. “If you had told us one year ago that we were going to come in third in Iowa, we would have given anything for that.”
That was a perfectly reasonable gloss for a candidate to put on unfavorable election results. But Dean quickly took on a red-faced, shouting, teeth-baring, air-punching demeanor unlike any of his performances during the campaign.
“Not only are we going to New Hampshire,” he said, his voice rising. “We’re going to South Carolina and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and we’re going to California and Texas and New York. And we’re going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan. And then we’re going to Washington, D.C. to take back the White House.”
Then he let out a strange, extended, yelp that seemed to come from deep within him: “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRHHHHHH!!!”
Dean resumed his roll of states. “We will not give up! We will not give up in New Hampshire! We will not give up in South Carolina! We will not give up in Arizona or New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan! We will not quit now or ever! We’ll earn our country back for ordinary Americans!”
As the crowd began to applaud, Dean recited still more states. “And we’re going to win in Massachusetts! And North Carolina! And Missouri! And Arkansas! And Connecticut! And New York! And Ohio!” — the home states of Dean’s rivals for the Democratic nomination.
At times in his speech, Dean’s demeanor seemed that of a man who was not aware of how he looked to outside observers. In the last days of the Iowa contest he had undergone the extreme stress of a candidate losing control of a campaign he had once dominated. His reaction to the loss in Iowa brought to mind statements Dean made on January 8, in an interview with People magazine, in which Dean discussed the emotional difficulties he has sometimes had dealing with stressful situations.
I think someone went to extra pains to find some fault with Dean.. he was trying to rally his supporters and staff who must have been really disappointed after all the hard work..
if you're really into people who don't know what they're talking about nor what people think of them turn the telly on tonight and switch to any of the corporate channels..
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*Originally posted by Ohioguy: *
.....
"Not only are we going to New Hampshire," he said, his voice rising. "We're going to South Carolina and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and we're going to California and Texas and New York. And we're going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan. And then we're going to Washington, D.C. to take back the White House."....
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It sounded so stupid when I heard him on NPR this morning saying all that. boooooo Dean
Really a positive night for Democrats now that the top two contenders are viable candidates who have the ability to Defeat George Bush. Deans bandwagon is going to start to lose it's wheels and the once untouchable Dean will become a causality. The fiery Dean could win an election at another time but the fact is most Americans aren't angry enough with their own situations and don't share his passion or sporadic, take no prisoners fire. Those candidates who take aim and then fire their shots are the ones who are most appealing and going to take the nomination (Edwards/Kerry). The certainty that surrounded Dean’s success will likely give motivation and vigor to the candidate who goes against Bush as they will look back at Iowa and remember how things turned out.
UTD in your view which dems cadidate has the best chancew to beat W
Senator John Edwards.
he is centrist enough to appeal to a large group of people. I was surprised at the Iowa caucus results because dems have traditionally supported the more liberal of the dems in caucus stage.
Does Edwards experience pose a hinderance? he has less experience than Kerry in govt, or Liberman, although Joe is not going to get the nomination.
Why is Gephardt not doing well, I would have thought he would have appealed to more people than Kerry or Edwards
These three will go till the very last, joined with Clark. Joe will be the next one to drop out …
Edwards is sure to win South, unless the African Americans vote otherwise. Kerry will prolly win other states like Iowa … which most Americans don’t know where the hell on the map it is. Clark will end up stealing a few of his own … and Dean will be left with a couple of left wing states, maybe California.
Anyway, I haven’t heard Kerry much so can’t comment on him. Dean is ok but will prolly lose if he has to compete Bush as he is perceived too far on the left and the most American voters are still too far right in their views. Edwards is 
I saw him being grilled on the Hard Ball very early in the race and don’t think much of him.
The good thing about the Iowa primary is that there was a huge voter turnout … so people are involved.
Someone said give ‘em McCain??? I say hands down!!!
Edwards spins it by saying his ‘Political Inexperience is a plus, not a liability’. If you want the country to move forward you need someone from the outside to get it done. And any attack coming form the Bush team about inexperience will have to be viewed with a raised eyebrow and asked where does bush come off saying anything about bad about inexperience?
When Edwards talks people listen because they want to hear what he says because he communicates so well, he doesn’t need a speech in front of him to sound good which is very similar to Clinton without the outside issues.
Gephardt didn't bring anyone new to the polls and I think his camp lacked the 'excitement'. I don't think anyone questions his dedication to serving the American people but Gephardts theme of trade agreements doesn't appeal to the average American. And could Gephart beat Bush? Most I think would look at that race and say no.
NH should be interesting; a large percentage of the Vermont population lives within 50 miles of the NH boarder so Dean should fair well but in grand scheme of things he won't maintain broad support once the media gives a little to Edwards/Kerry and Clark who is polling well in NH in my opinion will be shorted lived as he isn’t really a democrat. How Edward and Kerry places will be the real story in NH, thus far the Media has brought us Dean and Clark which in the end will turn out to be the lightweight match rather than the heavyweights, Edwards and Kerry. Kerry has military experience that he holds over Edwards, the next few weeks are going to be interesting.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
Kerry has military experience that he holds over Edwards, the next few weeks are going to be interesting.
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Yeah, but Clark can bash Kerry's military record and Edwards will remain above the fray as before.
GEPHARDT :(
^ yep just read it..what is surprising is that he quit but sharpton is still contesting..and so is lieberman..
they didn't take their cue from Mosley.. Lieberman should endorse Edwards, Sharpton should endorse Dean or Clark and let's get down to the final four.