Blog
Notes on Gov. Dean Visit to Alabama
March 12, 2008
Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, spoke to a group at the Summit Club in Birmingham, as well as two groups in Montgomery. This is an exciting time for the Democratic Party. Rather than finding the current primary fight divisive, Governor Dean said it has engaged more people in the political process. More people voted last Tuesday in the Texas Democratic primary than voted for John Kerry in the last presidential election in Texas. He also said there is a generational change happening with the voting public - the under 30s are voting in bigger numbers and their issues are different - climate change, Darfur, multiculturalism - than the older voter.
Concerning a "Do Over" in Florida and Michigan, the governor stated, "My job is to make it fair. We can't seat the delegates as is, we can't change the rules everyone agreed to. It's possible there can be a mail in ballot or we can split the delegates; no matter what both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will need to agree with the solution."
Gov. Dean pointed out the reasons for the change in the Democratic primary - to have representation from every area of the country plus major ethnic groups - that's why South Carolina and Nevada were added behind Iowa and New Hampshire. The midwest, east, south and west were all represented as well as minority groups such as African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. He noted that both Florida and Michigan agreed to the plan. He does not believe the superdelegates will change the outcome as many of them have already committed and others will consider the outcomes of the elections in their state. He also said that the superdelegates were elected by the people, with 40% being elected officials and 60% being party activists, who want to do what their constituency wants them to do.
He likened the Clinton/Obama contest to Alabama/Auburn. He said some of you might not speak to each other for a short while after the game but then you all get back together. He hopes the superdelegates will commit prior to the convention. He doesn't know if it's possible to have a "dream ticket" of Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama but if we split in half, we all lose. The Democrats will have a great victory in November barring unforeseen circumstances because Senator John McCain is wrong on the major issues - the war, taxes, the economy . . .
And Alabama can elect a democratic governor the next time around and then, soon, there will be a democratic senator and so on. It was exciting to have Governor Dean here and know that he truly has put his 50 state strategy into operation - committing funds, visiting every state doing what he can to help. As he said, "Elections are not won in Washington D.C., they are won in the states."
Alabama Democrats appreciate and thank him for his visit. Also, thanks to Linda Verin for the notes above.
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