Howard Brush Dean III |
|
Howard Dean's use of the Internet and his opposition to the invasion of Iraq are helping the former Vermont governor emerge as a front-runner in the Iowa caucus. His snowballing support in Iowa appeared most visibly among the wave of blue "Dean for America" posters that recently filled nearly half of the Democratic "Jefferson-Jackson Day" audience in Des Moines. With a B.A. from Yale and a medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, the former physician entered politics as a Vermont state representative and advanced to Governor in less than a decade, following then-Governor Richard Snelling's death. Dean balanced the state's budget each year as Governor while extending health care to 92 percent of Vermont residents. Dean's wife, Judith Steinberg Dean, and their two children remain largely out of the campaign spotlight, opting instead to continue their lives in privacy for as long as possible. The 55-year-old reportedly drives a Chevy Blazer, calls Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion his favorite book, and enjoys Wyclef Jean's song, Jaspora. Dean's campaign Web site: www.deanforamerica.com |
Issues,
Strategies and Key Quotes |
1. The Economy: Dean promises to repeal the Bush tax cuts and use those funds to pay for universal health care, homeland security, and investments in job security. He also proposes a two-year, $100 billion Fund to Restore America, aimed at creating new jobs. The government will in turn distribute the money to states hit hardest by the economic downturn. 2. The War in Iraq: Dean opposed the war from the beginning, saying that although Saddam Hussein needed to be disarmed, he did not constitute enough of a threat for the U.S. to wage war. He proposes defeating the threat posed by terrorists, strengthening alliances, focusing an effort to stabilize China and Russia, and reducing U.S. dependency on Middle Eastern Oil. 3. Health Care: Dean's four-part plan includes: expanding Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance program to all children — middle and lower incoming — up to age 25; making adults who earn up to 185 percent of poverty level — $16,613 — eligible for health insurance under the Children Health Insurance Program; lowering the cost of health insurance for companies with fewer than 50 workers; and providing tax incentives to large corporations that offer health insurance benefits. Official strategy statement: Campaign officials say they’re using a grassroots approach, visiting with small groups of voters while using the Internet as an additional boost. Campaign's assessment of its own strength: Flexibility, use of technology, Howard Dean Quotes from Dean: "I am Howard Dean, and I'm here
to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party." "You
[the American people] have the power." "The
truth is that any one of us would be a better president than
George W. Bush." |
Potential
Vulnerabilities |
"Heh, heh, heh. Yeah, that's
the one we want. How come no one is cheering for Dean?" "Howard Dean's stated belief
that the United States won't always have the strongest military
raises serious questions about his capacity to serve as Commander-in-Chief.
No serious candidate for the Presidency has ever before suggested
that he would compromise or tolerate an erosion of America's military
supremacy" "Howard
Dean is shaking up the entire Democratic Party. To see this guy
get the nomination is the last thing they want to happen - because
it's guaranteed defeat. This is McGovern 1972 all over again.” Our own assessment of Dean's vulnerability: Wobble on Israel, social security age, trade standards |
Iowa
Campaign Information |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
National
Campaign Information |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|