DNC musical chairs

by Jerome Armstrong, Wed Jan 26, 2005 at 06:03:59 PM EST

Ben Johnson gets in trouble for saying yes twice?

Tuesday, Hotline reported that DNC dep chair Ben Johnson endorsed Dean, citing a 1/24 News Release.
Early today Wednesday, the AP in the Denver Post says Webb Tuesday garnered the endorsement from DNC deputy chair Ben Johnson of Washington, D.C.
Noon today in Hotline, Webb's camp reconfirmed Ben Johnson's endorsement of Webb despite his having backed Dean 1/24
Last Call today in Hotline, reports that DNC Dep Chair Ben Johnson said in a News Release, "I want to reaffirm my private and public support for Governor Howard Dean for DNC Chair".

The Boiler Rooms for the DNC Chair are working overtime... OK, I understand you support XXXXXX as your first choice, but can I be your second? Yes, great. No, how about third?

Tags: Democrats (all tags)

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Ooh, dangerous

The impression now is that Webb is inflating a position of "yeah, I'd support you if you win" to an endorsement. This sort of action looks desperate, and will hurt him.

This reminds me of how Kerry's staff trumpeted a phone call from Steve Jobs, head of Apple and Pixar, into a claim that Mr. Jobs was in Kerry's advisory team and forcing a disclaimer from Mr. Jobs. Such self-inflicted wounds aren't deadly, but they add up...

by Saint Fnordius 2005-01-26 09:36PM | 0 recs

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Dean had a bit of a mistake like this...

...during the primary race when he prematurely announced that John Conyers had endorsed him. The truth was that Conyers was at a rally with Dean, was impressed with the support Dean was receiving, and may have gotten a little enthusiastic in his praise of Dean, making it sound like he was endorsing the Governor. The Dean campaign then put out a press release saying that they had gotten Conyers' endorsement. Conyers then quickly said that he had not endorsed Dean.

The campaign made the mistake of not CONFIRMING the endorsement with Conyers before running with it.

I'm a Dean guy all the way, but it was incidents like this that hinted at some of the immaturity in the Dean organization.

by Chris Andersen 2005-01-26 11:09PM | 0 recs

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Re: Dean had a bit of a mistake like this...

Earlier this week, Dean got some strong words of support from another congressman, Rep. John Conyers, the Michigan Democrat who is the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus. Conyers made clear in a follow-up e-mail that he's reserving a formal endorsement until sometime right before the Michigan caucuses -- set for February 7. (CNN.com's interactive Election Calendar)

"As I have previously stated, it is clear to me that the governor, if nominated, would be a very strong candidate against George W. Bush. As I also have stated in the past, I do not plan to formally endorse a candidate for president until shortly before the Michigan caucuses."

Conyers said he "has no doubt ... that Howard Dean has run the best and strongest campaign among the Democratic candidates."
Edwards in the workplace

It was Conyers who jumped his own gun and then bcaktracked.

by Parker 2005-01-27 03:07AM | 0 recs

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Re: Dean had a bit of a mistake like this...

Anyhow this time around Convers makes his endorsement explicit

Hon. John Conyers (D-MI)
In a letter to Governor Dean: "[I]t is time for our Party to realize that a strong commitment to core Democratic principles is not only good policy and good for Americans, but is also good politics. Our vision for America is one where we protect all Americans, and do not turn our backs on any American. The most critical part of protecting Americans is ensuring the safety from the threat of terrorism, but our commitment should not end there: it must include health care security, retirement security, and economic security. You have spoken eloquently about those values and would be an ideal messenger for our party in this regard....

"It is time for the party to choose a new Chairman, and I believe you are the best candidates to pick up the torch and take the Party to a new level of success."

by Parker 2005-01-27 03:14AM | 0 recs

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Re: Dean had a bit of a mistake like this...

I'm going to search out DHinMI and GOTV to explain this--they kind of sorted out what happened last weekend.

Hopefully, they will elaborate. But suffice it to say, there was a kind of endorsement, and then some quick work from those with better connections not only got an un-endorsement, but made sure the press heard about the un-endorsement.

And yes, it was a sign of Dean's immaturity, and his supporters' (and I too count myself as one) lack of experience with the local pols.

by emptywheel 2005-01-27 04:32AM | 0 recs

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Today in Denver Post, he reiterates Dean support.

Looks like his signature on a petition was misunderstood as an endorsement.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~11676~2675640,00.html
"Wellington Webb's campaign for Democratic Party chairman boasted support this week from a top party official who turns out instead to be backing Howard Dean.

"I was surprised that I didn't get a call from him to find out where I stood," said Ben Johnson, deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who served as a top adviser in the Clinton White House.

On Tuesday, Denver's former three-term mayor issued a news release touting "growing support" among the 447 members of the Democratic National Committee who will pick a new chairman Feb. 12. Johnson topped Webb's list of supporters.

"The mayor had a conversation with Ben Johnson early on in the race, and Ben Johnson pledged his endorsement to the mayor," Webb campaign manager Paul Lhevine said Wednesday.

Not so, countered Johnson, who signed Webb's and other candidates' petitions to make the ballot but said his signature was "not meant as an endorsement."

by concerned democrat 2005-01-27 06:30AM | 0 recs