Not Your Sweetie

Today's dean spam

Governor Dean also asked me to offer some practical advice and guidance concerning our delegate candidates. It is true that Governor Dean’s name will remain on the ballot and our delegate candidates will be eligible to receive votes on March 2nd. However, it is important to keep in mind that getting elected as a delegate requires Governor Dean meeting two important thresholds: he must win at least 15% of the votes cast statewide in the popular vote contest that is separate from the vote for delegate candidates, AND he must capture 15% of the vote in the delegate’s Congressional District.

In his speech yesterday afternoon and in our conversation, Governor Dean was clear about his commitment not to run as an independent or third party candidate. He asked me to urge all his supporters not to undermine the eventual Democratic nominee by backing a third party candidate, but rather to keep focused on what is most important -- beating George W. Bush in November.

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 I know that some of our delegates are electable as individuals in their home communities. However, I want to underscore that given the Governor’s withdrawal from the race, the absence of any resources or the Governor’s presence in New York, combined with what is shaping up to be a hot Kerry-Edwards contest with many voters wanting to make a choice between the two of them, it will be enormously difficult for us to win 15% of the vote statewide. For those who want to soldier on to win votes for Governor Dean and his delegates, you have his blessing and appreciation, but he felt it was important to communicate that despite whatever efforts may be made, there is no assurance that we can meet the threshold requirement to earn delegates.