Primary Votes Still Matter
Dick Golden, a frequent visitor at Dean Nation & Progressive Nation, had this published in the Sarasota Herald Tribune today:
Dick also observes: All information currently available indicates that all Democratic primary votes -- until after all primaries have been held -- will be counted AND that all votes for Dean will be registered. So there is every reason for anyone who supports Howard Dean's causes to vote for him. Everything to gain; nothing to lose. A Dean supporter can (heaven forbid!) even vote for Dennis Kucinich in November.
With significantly more delegate votes than have already been cast are still up for grabs -- even a 15% Dean turnout will give him important increased leverage in pushing for a progressive Democratic platform at the convention. Texas and Florida are only the starting points. EVERY VOTE IN EVERY STATE THAT HAS A PRIMARY COMING UP COUNTS.
Wouldn't it be great if every Dean supporter reading this called, say, five other Dean people and asked them to be sure to turn out...and to pass the word?
Note: Cross Posted on Progressive Nation.
Primary votes still matter
The presidential primary Tuesday is still important. It offers Florida Democrats the opportunity to vote with their hearts. The preferences expressed in the primary do not have to relate to the votes cast in the Nov. 2 election. March is for the heart; November is for the head.
Understandably, the Democratic Leadership Council and the Democratic National Committee have been eager to produce a presidential candidate. Clich? or not, there are occasions when haste makes waste.
Howard Dean is on the Florida ballot. If he was or might have been one's candidate -- and if one accepts the fact that Dean's candidacy for 2004 is undeniably dead -- please read on.
Dean suspended his campaign and pledged to support the eventual Democratic candidate, and to urge his own supporters to vote for whomever the Democratic candidate turned out to be.
Dean is seeking votes to enhance his voice in the writing of the Democratic platform. Vote counts in the primary determine the numbers of delegates candidates get. The greater number of delegates candidates get, the greater their influences on the party platform.
Philip McNamara, director of delegate selection of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, has said that candidates who suspend their campaigns can be represented by delegates at the July convention. He has specifically declared Howard Dean (and Wesley Clark) eligible to get delegates.
Finally, John Kerry has locked up the nomination. Dean's pledge of support is still out there.
What Dean wants is the opportunity to most effectively represent people who support his causes in the drafting of the Democratic platform.
Richard W. Golden
Sarasota
Dick also observes: All information currently available indicates that all Democratic primary votes -- until after all primaries have been held -- will be counted AND that all votes for Dean will be registered. So there is every reason for anyone who supports Howard Dean's causes to vote for him. Everything to gain; nothing to lose. A Dean supporter can (heaven forbid!) even vote for Dennis Kucinich in November.
With significantly more delegate votes than have already been cast are still up for grabs -- even a 15% Dean turnout will give him important increased leverage in pushing for a progressive Democratic platform at the convention. Texas and Florida are only the starting points. EVERY VOTE IN EVERY STATE THAT HAS A PRIMARY COMING UP COUNTS.
Wouldn't it be great if every Dean supporter reading this called, say, five other Dean people and asked them to be sure to turn out...and to pass the word?
Note: Cross Posted on Progressive Nation.
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