McGreevey Is First Governor to Endorse Dean

RENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Democrat James E. McGreevey became the first governor to endorse Howard Dean, saying the former Vermont governor shares his support for middle-class families.

"He knows this campaign is about more than just changing presidents. It is about our children's education, improving our economy and protecting our environment," McGreevey said in prepared remarks distributed prior to a joint appearance with Dean Friday morning.

About 300 union members, Dean supporters and New Jersey Democrats crowded a hotel ballroom for the endorsement announcement. About 50 state party leaders were also on hand to back Dean. They included U.S. Rep. Rush Holt and 15 of the state's 21 county party chairmen.

New Jersey Democrats won't choose their candidate until the June 2004 primary. This early endorsement helps the state push its agenda with the national campaign, Democrats said.

The Dean campaign has been pushing for support from fellow Democrats, hoping to build on the momentum from Dean's recent endorsement by former Vice President Al Gore.

Dean called McGreevey's endorsement an honor. "He is a powerful addition to the greatest grass roots campaign presidential politics has ever seen."

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If it matters, I have to agree, I am endorsing Dean as well [img]smile.gif[/img]

I believe that his campaign (should he win the democrudic nomination) will Implode late next year and the Repugs win by a landslide.....if I am wrong, you can remind me of this post and I will eat my fedora.(figuratively)</font>

Yeah, I think Bush has a large advantage. But, whether or not he wins, he likely has as good a chance as anyone, and a real grass roots movement is needed in this country. It's time for the people to find their voice again, because right now only Halliburton and other corps have a main line to our government.

I'm with you on this MagiK, The only Dem that has a chance is Lieberman. To win the Presidency of the USA you have to run to the center, to win the nomination of either of the major parties you have to run to the far left or right inorder to get the the votes of the hard core party members, unless you are very Charismatic (Clinton). Hard core party members are the ones that do the most voting in the primaries. That is the real advantage of being an incumbant, not all the crap you hear form the politcal puntants on the news. Anything the Dem. canidate says that is (perceived)far left will haunt him throught the general election, just as Sen Dole in 96 was haunted by his (perceived)far right statments and actions. Very few canidates can run to the far side of their parties in the general election and win. There has to be special circumstances in the country for that to work. ie: '76 first general election after watergate Carter was able to run to the left and win because the people were feed-up with Nixon. '80 Reagan was able to run to the right because the people were feed-up with the beating the USA had taken on the world stage. Those circumstances donot exist currently, with the economy rebounding, Iran, and Lybia both giving into having world nuke inspectors check out their programs, without a shot having to be fired at them. The Palestinians not willing to meet Israel halfway, or at least the preception they aren't willing to meet halfway, Bush can run to the center right and still have a landslide victory.

Like it or not President Bush owns the center right now, he's close enough to it for people even slightly to the left of center to vote for him. And he's far enough right of center, for the far right to vote for him. All the Dems, except Lieberman have painted themselves way left of center. Too far left of center for people slightly to the right of center to vote for them.

One man's grass roots, is another's corporate/special interest movement. No candidate wins the Presidency with out the votes of people/grass roots people. Last time I looked Haliburton COULDN'T vote, niether could the NRA, or the Serria Club. While Money is important to get you message out, IF the people don't like your message they AIN'T gonna vote for ya. see 2002 mid-term elections the Dems got their message out and the folks didn't like it.

Well it seems that in 2002, the Dems tried to be more like the Reps and ended up losing quite a few seats. Why settle for Republican Lite (re centrist/right Democrats) when you can have the real thing. Lieberman being more like Bush will not get him elected, may as well go for the real thing, not a pretender to the throne...hmmm?

Mark

ROTHFLMAO :D :D :D "HALE" the Dems were left in 2002, but go ahead and keep that thunking up, the Reps need even more seats in 2004. :D :D :D

Running to the center gets you the votes, the trick is you have to be close enough to the center to get the center's vote but not too far over the center line and lose the votes of the far extreme of your party.

The break down as I see it from over 30 years of watching the politcal landscape is like this:
20% extreme left-vote left maybe left center
20% extreme right-vote right maybe right center
20% left center- will vote for somebody as far as right center or extreme left
20% Right center- will vote for somebody as far as left center or extreme right
20% center- will vote either left center or right center

Now if you stake out the extreme of either side you will only get in the upper 40% while if the other side runs more to the center will get over 50% in the majority of states and win their electorial college vote. There are more electorial college states in the center then the right or left. And it is worse for the left then the right, If you run to far to the left you give up over 1/3 of the electorial college vote from the south, right out of the shute. You may have 1/4 of the electorial college votes, but you're working from a 8-10% deficit(SP?).

For Dean supporters, I would be very leary of an endorsement from Gov McGreevy. He is generaly not looked upon too favorably in NJ. When he came to office, there was a supposed deficit and spending needed to be curtailed. So various programs were tagged for spending cuts - yet he also requested and got from the legislature about a $20K raise. All with in his first 90 days. I would be hard pressed to to think of a single campain promise that he even attemted to fulfill.