Braun Quits, Backs Dean

Braun to Quit Presidential Bid, Back Dean

Not clear that this means all that much, but it can't hurt Dean, especially to have the backing of an African-American candidate after Al Sharpton busted the gov's chops on race issues during the last debate.

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, poll numbers are tightening, with Gen. Clark and John Kerry (!) gaining ground on Dean.

Update: D'oh! on my part, as Jesse Walker had already blogged the Braun bit here.

Comments

[Ron Hardin]

Don't forget the Lady-American vote either.

[Rick Barton]

It is so great to see Dean having troubles due to his idiot position to repeal the tax cuts catching up with him!

[voter?]

Jesse: 1
Nick: 0

[joe]

I thought the timing of this was curious. Very insightful about the Sharpton attack angle, Nick.

[anon]

4 out of 5 cynics agree, Ms. Braun's role in the race was to blunt any forward progress Al Sharpton might make. Mission accomplished, time to drop out...

[joe]

Then why would she drop out before S. Carolina?

[Citizen]

Got a link for me on that Al Sharpton bust of the gov's chops on race issues?

[joe]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64721-2003Nov4?language=printer

Complete debate transcript.

And here's what Dean should have said, "As governor of Vermont, I had a cabinet that looked like Vermont. As President of the United States, I'll have a cabinet that looks like America."

[dj of raleigh]

The media made a lot out of religion
making Dean seem superficial and
manipulative about his quitting a church
over a bike path and his decision about
talking Bible in the Bible belt.
This would be to hurt his religious vote.

The media made a lot out of Rev Al
berating Dean on matters of race.
That would be to hurt his black/brown vote.

The media made an issue
of Dean having vouched for a friend
as a good guy, a guy who was his security
and later found to be a wife beater.
That would be to hurt his women's vote.

Then there was the tiny hoopla about
Dean taking 'stuff' for his panic attacks,
which would be to hurt his "sanity" vote.

Getting Bill Bradley's endorsement was one thing,
but Braun's is questionable. Did he seek that?
What promise did he give to get it.

I figured before the Iowa vote,
they will talk about his military service
as a 4-F draft dodger gone skiing all summer,
and for describing his brother,
who was killed in SE Asia as an MIA.
This would be to hurt his military/vet vote.

Why are they coming out now?
Is it just co-incidence?
These are more emotional issues
than meaningful issues.
But the spacing, the timing,
seems a little predetermined.
This would be to hurt his Iowa vote.

Who could manipulate the media so?

So, Dean will certainly lose the vote of the
minority-religious-feminist-vet-living in Iowa.

I see Hillary/Edwards (North/south) coming out of the convention. Only finding WMD in Iraq could stop it, or later, Nader.