Trippi Dumps Dean
Joe Trippi, the man who brought Howard Dean from a relatively-unknown Governor to the frontrunner in the Democratic Presidential primary, has officially dropped his candidate.
The move comes after Dean was widely criticized for an outburst after the Iowa caucuses and several interviews about the absence of his wife. In addition, numerous attacks from other candidates have brandished Dean as “angry”, “indecisive”, “lying”, “irreligious”, and “crazy”.
Dean has decided to continue his campaign with a boring Washington insider who helped Al Gore’s presidential bid go down in flames. Experts predicted Dean will soon begin spouting platitudes about “the people versus the powerful” while hiding his liberal political views and failing to make any innovative policy suggestions. This could make Dean stand out even less in an already-crowded race.
Commentators suggested the move would be difficult for Trippi, since Dean is still first in money, infrastructure, and delegates. “Rebuilding your constituency after a change like this is always difficult,” said one unnamed source. “This is certainly going to be a major blow to the Trippi campaign.”
Trippi has not yet named his new candidate.
posted January 28, 2004 05:55 PM (Politics) (8 comments) #
I think that’s a bit overly dramatic don’t you? They said the same thing about the Kerry campaign months ago when he fired his guy (or he quit). This is essentially still a 4 horse race. Kerry, Dean, Clark and Edwards are all still realistic shots.
Of course, the Dean campaign may well be over. I certainly hope not. But I think it would be unfair to say that Joe Trippi is the only person on the face of the Earth that can take Dean to the nomination and if he is gone then Dean is done.
I’m sticking by my guy Dean, and then at in the general election I’m casting my vote for the donkey that is up against Bush.
posted by Pat at January 28, 2004 06:04 PM #
I am in agreement with Pat. You seem somewhat contemptuous of change.
Perhaps another good reason to unsubscribe from this rss.
posted by at January 28, 2004 06:47 PM #
Aaron, when you revise an entry in response to a user comment, be forthright and mark the time. Pat’s comments make a lot more sense when one knows that you declared the Dean campaign “officially over”.
This draft makes it seem as if Trippi quit in disgust, that Dean then brought in Neel, and that Trippi no longer supports Dean. In fact, Neel has been with the campaign since the beginning of the year as an advisor; Dean asked Trippi to remain in charge of the Internet campaign while Neel took over meatspace operations, and Trippi declined. In both the Dean weblog and press interviews, Trippi has urged voters to stand by Dean.
posted by Tom at January 29, 2004 01:38 AM #
Also, there’s no evidence that Dean is first in money any more. It sounds like Trippi spent boatloads of it in a gamble to win Iowa and New Hampshire and end the nomination there, then raise tons of money from the grassroots (John McCain still holds the internet fundraising record: $1 million online the day after he won the New Hampshire primary). If he’d pulled it off, he’d be hailed as a genius.
But he didn’t pull it off and now the campaign is strapped for cash and facing John Kerry who is raking in money hand over fist.
posted by Luke Francl at January 29, 2004 10:14 AM #
BTW, here’s something I wrote in a similar style about Kerry a few weeks ago:
Tue Nov 11th, 2003 at 16:02:20 CST
BOSTON (AP) —
John Kerry’s campaign for president is in turmoil following news that Kerry would quit the campaign. Citing differences of opinion on how the campaign should be run, Kerry formally stepped down as candidate today. This is the third tumultuous departure from the Kerry campaign in as many months. Previously, campaign spokesman Chris Lehane stepped down and campaign manager Robert Jordan was fired.
Former Kerry spokesman Chris Lehane said the campaign was looking into replacing Kerry with another candidate, “preferably Clark.” Lehane said that Clark’s military record would resonate with former Kerry supporters. “Failing that,” Lehane said, “maybe we could find an obscure governor from a small state to run.”
posted by Luke Francl at January 29, 2004 10:19 AM #
I’ve got to say, anyone who’s been following the West Wing could’ve told you the Iowa/New Hampshire gamble wouldn’t pay off:
“So, we finish second in South Carolina, we pick up some steam, some endorsements, mostly some money, going into South Dakota, Vermont, Maine — where we come away with a split, maybe better, and now the prohibitive nominee for the democratic candidate has lost 3 out of seven contests — and half the actual primaries. Leading into Super Tuesday. Hoynes will take the South. We’ll take the North and the Pacific Northwest. This race will be decided a week later in Illinois. […] If we win in Illinois, we’re going to run the table.
“BARTLET: Well, that’s it, then. And we saved people the trouble of voting. What’s next?”
posted by Aaron Swartz at January 29, 2004 11:26 AM #
Aaron, uh, the gamble seems to be paying off for John Kerry, who was pronounced DOA a few weeks before Iowa. He lent himself $5,000,000 and put it all into Iowa. He won, and instantly replaced Dean as the front-runner.
posted by Luke Francl at January 29, 2004 06:10 PM #
Sorry, I meant for Dean. Kerry is obviously Hoynes.
posted by Aaron Swartz at January 30, 2004 10:40 AM #
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