Democrats question if Dean has heft to win in November
By Bret Hayworth. Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, January 02, 2004
ONAWA, Iowa -- Don't rush too quickly to crown Howard Dean. As the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses approach, Democrats are starting to think about who has the heft to win the 2004 presidential race.
The year 2003 drew to a close with candidate John Kerry stumping in Onawa and then attending a New Year's Eve Party at the Sioux City Community Theatre. Two western Iowa county party leaders were wondering if Howard Dean, in spite of a lead in Iowa polls and with the endorsement of Al Gore, is the right candidate for the Democratic Party come November.
In fact, Jody Ewing recently jumped the Dean camp for Kerry. "I am one of the many who dated Dean and married Kerry," said Ewing, who now serves as Monona County chairwoman for John Kerry.
With the holidays over and the caucuses less than three weeks away, Ewing said, voters are now ready to get serious about picking a candidate. From her conversations with Monona County residents, Ewing said Dick Gephardt and Kerry seem to be the primary choices. "I think Dean is probably more popular in eastern Iowa, with the colleges," Ewing said.
She was joined by Donna Clothier, Shelby County Democratic Party chairwoman, in saying that Gephardt and Kerry are more electable and more experienced in foreign policy than Dean. "They are seasoned and know what they are doing," Clothier said. "I just question whether Gov. Dean is seasoned enough to be president. He has made some terrible mistakes in the last few weeks." She said people initially liked Dean's firebrand method of speech, but are increasingly concerned over some gaffes that resulted in backpedaling.
Dean has brought in a huge influx of formerly apathetic young voters. That is great, Clothier said, but she said she wonders about whether they will help the county, state and national Democratic parties. Labeling the young Dean supporters "hangers-on, rather than dedicated," she opined, "they are not the people who will go out and work. It is just like a game for these young people."
Clothier said Gephardt had visited Harlan three times and made a strong impression. The key thing, Clothier said, is to nominate someone who can defeat President Bush. She said she has doubts about how Dean would fare in southern states.
Kerry spoke at the end of his prepared remarks in the theme of Clothier and Ewing. Speaking to a crowd of 120 at Janz Restaurant, Kerry said the Democrats need to show answers rather than anger. He told them not to go to caucus "to just send America a message, but to send America a president, because that is what we need."
Kerry said Democrats need "to be clear in focus and in values, clear about what we are going to do for America and for Americans, that show the hope and leadership that Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton showed." He said he would put forth policies that protect the environment without negatively impacting business, prod for more renewable energies, more adequately fund education and issue an executive order that would stop those leaving government service from lobbying the government for five years.
Kerry cast a barb at Bush, in announcing an end to hostilities in Iraq, for playing "dress-up" in fighter pilot gear before the "Mission Accomplished" banner. Said Kerry, "Mission Accomplished? Mission Accomplished for who?"
He said the only people who could be happy with Bush would be the drug companies who got a windfall in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, polluting companies who get a break as the administration dismantles the Clean Air Act or Americans earning over $200,000, for the sizable tax cuts received. "If you care about health care, if you care about the environment, if you care about education, it is not only not Mission Accomplished, it is not even Mission Attempted," Kerry said. "It is Mission Deserted."
About 400 were anticipated at the Sioux City Community Theatre, and Kerry was joined by his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. "I am ready to dance the night away," he said.
Dean will get another chance to speak with Northwest Iowa voters tonight when he visits West High School at 7:45 p.m. He will be in Storm Lake and Emmetsburg on Saturday.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712)293-4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com.
The year 2003 drew to a close with candidate John Kerry stumping in Onawa and then attending a New Year's Eve Party at the Sioux City Community Theatre. Two western Iowa county party leaders were wondering if Howard Dean, in spite of a lead in Iowa polls and with the endorsement of Al Gore, is the right candidate for the Democratic Party come November.
In fact, Jody Ewing recently jumped the Dean camp for Kerry. "I am one of the many who dated Dean and married Kerry," said Ewing, who now serves as Monona County chairwoman for John Kerry.
With the holidays over and the caucuses less than three weeks away, Ewing said, voters are now ready to get serious about picking a candidate. From her conversations with Monona County residents, Ewing said Dick Gephardt and Kerry seem to be the primary choices. "I think Dean is probably more popular in eastern Iowa, with the colleges," Ewing said.
She was joined by Donna Clothier, Shelby County Democratic Party chairwoman, in saying that Gephardt and Kerry are more electable and more experienced in foreign policy than Dean. "They are seasoned and know what they are doing," Clothier said. "I just question whether Gov. Dean is seasoned enough to be president. He has made some terrible mistakes in the last few weeks." She said people initially liked Dean's firebrand method of speech, but are increasingly concerned over some gaffes that resulted in backpedaling.
Dean has brought in a huge influx of formerly apathetic young voters. That is great, Clothier said, but she said she wonders about whether they will help the county, state and national Democratic parties. Labeling the young Dean supporters "hangers-on, rather than dedicated," she opined, "they are not the people who will go out and work. It is just like a game for these young people."
Clothier said Gephardt had visited Harlan three times and made a strong impression. The key thing, Clothier said, is to nominate someone who can defeat President Bush. She said she has doubts about how Dean would fare in southern states.
Kerry spoke at the end of his prepared remarks in the theme of Clothier and Ewing. Speaking to a crowd of 120 at Janz Restaurant, Kerry said the Democrats need to show answers rather than anger. He told them not to go to caucus "to just send America a message, but to send America a president, because that is what we need."
Kerry said Democrats need "to be clear in focus and in values, clear about what we are going to do for America and for Americans, that show the hope and leadership that Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton showed." He said he would put forth policies that protect the environment without negatively impacting business, prod for more renewable energies, more adequately fund education and issue an executive order that would stop those leaving government service from lobbying the government for five years.
Kerry cast a barb at Bush, in announcing an end to hostilities in Iraq, for playing "dress-up" in fighter pilot gear before the "Mission Accomplished" banner. Said Kerry, "Mission Accomplished? Mission Accomplished for who?"
He said the only people who could be happy with Bush would be the drug companies who got a windfall in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, polluting companies who get a break as the administration dismantles the Clean Air Act or Americans earning over $200,000, for the sizable tax cuts received. "If you care about health care, if you care about the environment, if you care about education, it is not only not Mission Accomplished, it is not even Mission Attempted," Kerry said. "It is Mission Deserted."
About 400 were anticipated at the Sioux City Community Theatre, and Kerry was joined by his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. "I am ready to dance the night away," he said.
Dean will get another chance to speak with Northwest Iowa voters tonight when he visits West High School at 7:45 p.m. He will be in Storm Lake and Emmetsburg on Saturday.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712)293-4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com.
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