I was thinking the other day that this would be a good move. Dean's staff is doing it right.
Dave Cullen "Salon" Blog.
Craftiest move yet?
I'm still looking into the background on this, but Howard Dean may have just pulled off the most brilliant tactical move of the campaign so far.
Iowa is shaping up as the most important state in the race, and it has only one Democratic rep in Congress--Leonard Boswell--who has apparently been targetted by Karl Rove for defeat.
So today, Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi sent out a message to Dean supporters explaining this and asking for donations for Boswell. A few minutes ago, the Dean blog posted a gracious letter from Boswell saying, "This is one of the most exciting projects I have ever seen!" The entry also reported that the Boswell campaign has tracked over $30,000 in donations from Dean supporters today.
What a clever way to win the undying love of one of the most powerful Dem politicians in the critical state 47 days before the caucus?
And if it doesn't bring an endorsement, it might at least head off one for local boy Gephardt. And/or, it could impress a lot of diehard Iowan Dems (the kind who turn out to caucuses on icy January nights) who are nervous about losing their lone rep. It comes off as a really selfless act, a real show of concern for Iowans . . .
At the very least he's going to get a whole lot of crucial media coverage in Iowa, and probably a whole lot of good will. Sure seems like the kind of thing that will play well in Iowa, no?
They have been working ideas like this for awhile, actually. For months they have had teams of Dean volunteers on do-gooder projects just to earn the love and admiration of the locals. But this is taking it to a big new level.
Has this been tried before? Seems so obvious, why didn't someone think of this years ago? Or did they?
blogs.salon.com |
