Formal Announcement of Formal Launch

From the campaign...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2003

GOVERNOR HOWARD DEAN TO FORMALLY LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT

Thousands of Supporters at over 360 Celebrations in All 50 States Will Join Governor Dean as He Lays Out His Vision for the Future of America

A year ago, Howard Dean began visiting communities across the country as a doctor and a governor to address issues that he cares deeply about -- the need for affordable health care, the importance of protecting our country’s children, and the hope of building an American community that includes every American. As he traveled the nation, his perspective changed -- not only was he having an impact upon the people he spoke with; those people were having an impact upon him. He realized that his hopes and concerns were shared by Americans across the country, from all walks of life.

Governor Dean felt that it was time to share his experiences, his views, the lessons he has learned from the American people over the past year and his vision for the future of our country. He also knew that no matter how Washington had already defined him, he wanted to take an opportunity to speak directly to the American people about what he believes is at stake in this election.

He decided that there was no better place to announce his candidacy for president than his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, the community where his involvement in politics began, where he built his record, and where he learned that it is the people who have the power to change the world around them.

In a celebration on Monday, June 23, he will be joined by friends and family from Vermont and across America. Governor Dean will deliver a speech calling for a great American restoration -- a restoration of America’s values, principles, sense of community and the people’s faith and participation in government.

The speech will be delivered in Burlington, but will be celebrated by thousands of Americans at gatherings in every state across the country. The declaration will be the biggest event of the political season, and it will also demonstrate the first great grassroots campaign of the modern era -- a campaign built on Governor Dean’s conviction that real change in America happens not from the top down, but from the bottom up.

As of today, over 12,000 people have signed up over the internet to attend Monday’s events, but Dean for America is far more than an “internet campaign” -- those supporters will also be knocking on doors, handing out fliers, notifying Americans with no online access and bringing together friends, family and neighbors across the country for a day that will shape this election and bring the people back into the government that is rightfully theirs.

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