Michael Moore is endorsing Clark. Jimmy Carter is endorsing Dean. The Des Moines Register (Iowa's biggest newspaper) has endorsed Edwards and so-called-democrat Zell Miller endorsed Bush... Does any of this mean anything?
Not really, except as maybe a morale boost and fundraising angle for the fortunate candidate. Regarding Zell, over the last term, he voted with the GOP about 95% of the time. The next closest Dem (Breaux of LA) was somewhere around 45%.
Don't forget about Bill Bradley's endorsement of Dean... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040107/ap_on_el_pr/dean_bradley_18
Everytime Howard Dean announces a new endorsement his poll numbers (though youo can never trust any polls) in Iowa seem to drop. He now has virtually no lead there and any of the top four (Dean, Gephardt, Kerry, Edwards) can take it. I think these endorsements are really hurting Howard Dean more than anything in the primary states (not nationally) because he became the leader by attacking the "washington establishment", and now all of a sudden he's holding hands with the likes of Al Gore, Tom Harkin, and now apparently Jimmy Carter. It's hypocritical, and i think people are seeing through it, and him now. The only endorsement I think has helped anyone is John Edwards endorsement from the Des Moines Register because I believe people will now feel more confident in caucusing for him, since before i think they were hesitant to back a relative newcomer. The "holy grail" of endorsents for Democrats would be Bil Clinton, and I dont think he'll endorse anyone in the primaries, and of course will during the Convention.
I don't see how Tom Harkin could have hurt Dean. He is very popular in Iowa and is a farm and labor type like Gephardt.
Thats not what I meant at all. I know Tom Harkin is loved among Iowa Democrats, but if Howard Dean wants to be the insurgent candidate against the "washington democrats" then it is a little contradicting to be between two of those " establishment insiders" in Harkin and Gore during an Iowa rally. Not to mention he wants to bash the Democratic candidates who voted for the Iraq resolution, conveniently overlooking that Tom Harkin voted for it as well. It just looks hypocritical.
