My DD on The Doctor Vs. Kerry

MyDD --

Donkey Rising has the three assumptions/problems in response to the last round of rebuttles made to DR's questioning of Dean's electability.

First, there's the issue of being able to box in Dean as just another liberal. DR admits that this is any Dems problem, and it is-- just as much as it is a Republicans problem to be labled as ultra-conservative. I'll just point out that, in terms of comparing Dean's geographic origins (he's NY-raised and Vermonter transplant), the Dems putting up another Massachusetts candidate (in fact, the protege of the last one) takes the prize of unelectability in this category.

Second, in terms of DR's claim: The fact of the matter is that Kerry’s ambivalence-but-reluctant-support of the Iraq war more fairly represented the public’s view of the war going in than did Dean’s intransigent opposition... There are some problems here.

Kerry did not mirror the public on this issue. He epitomized the finger-in-the-wind politician that is so out of touch, that he can figure out a way to rationalize voting against attacking Iraq when they invaded Kuwait, and for invading Iraq without cause to favor Bush. This isn't about electability, but plain political sense.

A Gallup poll in mid Feb showed just how centrist that Dean was in his stance. His was not the opposition that DR portrays it as. He clearly stated that, with UN approval, he would agree with going into Iraq. Dean, not Kerry, positioned with the majority.

Third, the questioning of the turnout that we think Dean will spur. DR thinks this is a dangerous strategy. And it is, if there's nothing going on to back up the talk. Kerry likes to talk about building the greatest grassroots campaign of all time, while Dean is actually making it happen. All the reports show that Dean is building something that will make his turnout higher.

As for Dean's demographics, recent SUSA polling shows his strength across the board (moreso than Kerry). The worst I've seen thrown at Dean, in terms of his base, is claiming that it's mostly white and male. What! A Democrat who is turning out the white male vote? Ha, imagine... Isn't it plainly obvious that if Dean is able to turn back the historical trend of white voters toward voting Republican, the battleground is then over Bush having to make inroads with women and minorities voters. Pray tell why Bush would be favored over Dean with that equation?