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Unless They're In a Dead Heat -- Howard Dean
Did anybody else out there watch Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer this morning when he interviewed Howard Dean? If so, did you keep hearing the KEY WORDS being mentioned repeatedly from Dean, "Unless they're in a dead heat....."?
Is this the DNC's way of setting in motion the IDEA of Hillary winning because so many factors, are so CLOSE?
Are they starting to push the idea that Hillary and her supporters have been pushing all along, that they are only separated by an elected delegate count of around 140 and the Popular vote difference is only 1% -- therefore, it's a Dead Heat! Supers will need to break the TIE.
Are the DNC preparing voters for the likely hood of something happening like this? After all, most voters won't know the real 'details' or 'counts'. Even the media can't agree with what the counts are as of today.
By getting the voters prepared NOW for a DEAD HEAT -- the DNC and Hillary won't take such a big HIT OF PROTESTS AND RIOTS when they hand the nomination over to her.
A Dead Heat -- Exactly what constitutes a deat heat Governor Dean? What kind of numbers are we talking about here?
Will the media ask him those questions? I doubt it.
Comments (8)
I did not see the interview. Could you perhaps provide some context for the "dead heat" statement. was he saying the supers should not overturn it "unless they are in a dead heat," or was he implying they are currently in a dead heat?
There may only be a 1% difference in the popular vote, but Barack's pledged delegate lead is currently over 10%. This is quite significant and doesn't seem to fit into any reasonable definition of a "dead heat."
April 6, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't see the interview. I did see Gov. Rendell spin Clinton talking points on Meet the Press though. He's insisting the DNC include the popular vote count in Florida and Michigan, as it was only the delegates that the DNC rules claim shouldn't be seated.
I've been following this and I'm getting confused. If the Clintons can petition the DNC to break the rules, should we petition the DNC to uphold them?
April 6, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
He was implying that the DECISION would be made by June -- unless there was a dead heat.
April 6, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Connie,
I didn't see this interview, but I have seen previous interviews of Howard Dean when he has been pressed about the prospect of a brokered Democratic Convention this summer, and why he hasn't played a more decisive role in many of the public arguments playing out over the last couple of months.
His position has always been one of detachment--he makes it clear that he is in no position to try to issue any decrees about how FL and MI should be handled or how superdelegates, pledged delegates, etc. should decide whom to support.
To calm and reassure you, let me say that I've also heard him repeatedly say that any solutions will have to be within rules that the Democratic Party agrees on, and they will have to be ones that both candidates consider fair.
I think his repeated emphasis on "dead heat" is probably literal--I wouldn't think he would try to engage in perception manipulation on this subject.
Keep in mind: Chairman Dean's top priority is to have a unified Democratic Party after we get a nominee selected. He knows this will only happen if the nominating process is fair.
April 6, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Laurajordan,
Perception is everything. Dean knows how the Obama supporters will feel cheated, if the statistics show that, even if just barely, Obama is ahead on all the required points and they give it to Hillary. He and the Party leaders, I'm betting, are trying to get the perception out there that if it's TIED, then things will have to be done.
He's following Hillary's strategy. Make it APPEAR that she is basically in a DEAD HEAT with Obama -- then things will be easier in the end.
April 6, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The last person I worry about in the entire Democratic power structure is Howard Dean.
April 6, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you were to ask me, I'd say that Dean is prejudiced in favor of Obama because he won't settle the MI and FL question and that just gives the Obama supporters something else to use against Hillary. That was my position yesterday based on his performance thus far and his own political background.
I'll also say that this race is extremely close and though both sides have their own definitions, it'll probably stay that way barring anything unforeseen. Dean has taken a lot of licks from the Hillary side, so I personally can't fault him for remaining cautious because when you get right down to it, neither candidate is going to "win" outright.
April 6, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw the interview and did not take it this way at all. As DNC chair, Dean has to be down the middle, but I do not see him leaning to Clinton at all.
April 6, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
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