Rosenberg STILL IN RACE & Dean's union endorsements

by annatopia, Wed Feb 02, 2005 at 08:02:50 AM EST

Via Salon.com's war room comes a statement from the Rosenberg campaign.

All Democrats need to remember that we must work together to unite our party, not divide it. Today, the day of Bush's State of the Union address, Simon Rosenberg understands that this is a time for Democrats to stand together and fight for our values and principles; Simon is in the race working to try and strengthen our party to prepare us to stand up and fight the Bush Administration at every turn.

The Salon article briefly takes Donnie Fowler to task for his blog entry from yesterday which states that Rosenberg's out.

I consider Salon to be a reliable source, so let us please put to bed DD's rumor from this morning about Dean offering Simon the Executive Director position (I assume that's what DD meant by "#2 position"). I admit, I salivate at the possibility of Rosenberg as Executive Director, and I love the momentum Dean has right now... But if we learned anything from Iowa... It ain't over till it's over!

Also, Dean picked up two endorsements from labor today. The first is from the International Machinists Union:

"We believe Governor Dean can provide a strong voice for working Americans and union members," said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger, a longtime DNC member. "He has the experience needed to run a large organization and the proven ability to raise the money and generate the momentum needed to revitalize the Democratic Party."

The second is from the Executive board of the United Auto Workers, who voted unanimously to endorse the good doctor:

"We believe that Howard Dean will be a dynamic, innovative and effective leader for the DNC," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said on behalf of the board. "Gov. Dean has proven his ability to bring new people into the Democratic Party and energize grassroots political activists in all parts of America."

"Gov. Dean understands quite clearly that the Democratic Party cannot afford to write off voters in any region of the country, and we're convinced that he will work tirelessly to make Democratic ideas and candidates winners in local, state and national elections," Gettelfinger said.

The UAW board has 4 voting DNC members. I'm still not ready to pop the campagne corks yet, but we're getting closer.

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Just posted in the War Room

We reported earlier today that Donnie Fowler has taken it upon himself to announce Simon Rosenberg's withdrawal from the DNC race. As you might imagine, Rosenberg's campaign staff isn't exactly thrilled about it -- especially since Rosenberg hasn't made any announcement about his departure just yet.

The Rosenberg campaign just released this clinched-teeth statement from spokesman Guillermo Meneses: "All Democrats need to remember that we must work together to unite our party, not divide it. Today, the day of Bush's State of the Union address, Simon Rosenberg understands that this is a time for Democrats to stand together and fight for our values and principles; Simon is in the race working to try and strengthen our party to prepare us to stand up and fight the Bush Administration at every turn."

We're awaiting word back from the Fowler campaign, which is still running the premature announcement as a post on Fowler's blog.

Update: We just spoke with Kirsten Powers from Fowler's staff. She said that "someone" told Fowler that Rosenberg had dropped out the race. News of Rosenberg's decision to withdraw has circulated through DNC and New Democrat Network circles; Powers said Fowler wrote his blog item based on the assumption that Rosenberg had already made the announcement public. "He wouldn't have written it if he knew that wasn't the case," Powers said. "It was incorrect, and we'll fix it."

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/index.html

by nanorich 2005-02-02 08:15AM | 0 recs

4a2fab88-ed3b-47a4-8f14-3ec8a24504ac_normal

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still needed

58 votes more needed by Dean, out of 260 remaining; or 54, since these are 4 more.

by Jerome Armstrong 2005-02-02 08:39AM | 0 recs

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Re: still needed

More Labor for Dean:

United Steelworkers and UAW both endorsed Howard Dean for DNC chair (releases).

by Jerome Armstrong 2005-02-02 11:40AM | 0 recs

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Re: still needed

I just counted, and I think he's up to 166 votes.

by emptywheel 2005-02-02 12:05PM | 0 recs

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Re: still needed

All these will be added, for those that are not repeats:

DNC Hispanic Caucus Members Endorsing Gov. Howard Dean:

Steven K. Alari, Dr. Celita Arroyo de Roques, Cathy Bartolotti, Tonio Burgos, Luisette Cabanas, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Alvaro Cifuentes, Maria Echaveste, Edward Espinoza, Norma Fisher Flores, Nely Galan, Alexandra Gallardo Rooker, Maria Garcia, Carmen Gonzalez, Teresa Krusor, Dr. Miguel D. Lausell Esq., Debbie Marquez, Hon. Iris Y. Martinez, Hon. Ramona Martinez, Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa, Raul Martinez, Hon. Kenneth McClintock, Hon. Gloria Molina, Gloria Nieto, John A. Perez, Hon. Roberto L. Prats, Hon. Roberto Ramirez, Joe Rios, Lula Rodriguez, Mannie Rodriguez, Mirian Saez, Annadelle Sanchez, Hon. Oscar Soliz, Alexis Tameron, Hon. Art Torres, Norma Torres, Steven Ybarra

by Jerome Armstrong 2005-02-02 12:57PM | 0 recs

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Let's remember...

That we absolutely must have a viable alternative to Dean on the day of the vote, JUST IN CASE the ABD movement gets on a role.

I'm a Simon supporter, but I would love Dean to be the chair. The more I hear about Fowler, the less I like, and Roemer is a complete and utter right-wing douchebag, so I really, really, hope that Rosenberg stays in, at the very least as a hedge against the anti-Dean faction...

God help us all if we get Roemer on the 12th.

by Alex Urevick 2005-02-02 09:23AM | 0 recs

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truly

rosenberg rocks. i hope he stays in, and if dean wins i want him as executive director (but you knew that already, heh).

by annatopia 2005-02-02 09:38AM | 0 recs

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Re: truly

Wouldn't that be great. A Dean/Rosenburg combo. Boy I was holding out hope for Howard, but getting both of them would just be the best of all worlds.

Somebody cue that fat lady already...

by michael in chicago 2005-02-02 12:07PM | 0 recs

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Rosenberg should definitely stay in.

There's no need for selection by acclamation for Dean.

Fowler's behavior in this campaign is increasingly rash. Not what the DNC or the party needs in a leader.

Not sure what role I'd trust him in at this point.

by boadicea 2005-02-02 10:25AM | 0 recs

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Re: Rosenberg should definitely stay in.

How about gardener? After all, he said at the DNC meeting that he's permanently got dirt under his fingernails from working with the grassroots.

by Alex Urevick 2005-02-02 10:30AM | 0 recs

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I am happy to have Rosenberg

in the race....

if only to torment and distract Donnie.

by nanorich 2005-02-02 10:38AM | 0 recs

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Curious

Why on earth would Fowler make an announcement for Rosenberg for any reason? Fowler has definitely demonstrated his incompetence to be DNC Chair. I unintentionally crossed ttagaris on a diary the other day by attempting to use his name as a good example. What I actually accomplished was stirring up shit. These are excellent examples of why Donnie Fowler and I are not competent to Chair the DNC.

Why Rosenberg would stay in is another interesting question. I suggested on a diary the other day that Rosenberg could benefit from Fowler dropping out if the ABD voters went to him. Rosenberg must think that may be a possiblility.

Just a few days ago, I thought Rosenberg would be a perfectly acceptable alternative to Dean. Today I am not so certain. In order for Rosenberg to unseat Dean at this point, it would require concerted arm twisting by the DLC. I can't even imagine the degree of "smoke filled room" back stabbing and corrupt deal making it would take to stop Dean's momentum this late in the day.

What could Rosenberg possibly say or do to distinguish himself that he hasn't already done? In spite of the grassroots and netroots support Rosenberg had several days ago, second only to Dean, he never finished higher than fourth in any vote or pollling I am aware of. The reason Rosenberg was so popular up to this point, with the grassroots and netroots, was his perceived independence from the DLC.

Is there any way Rosenberg could stop Dean on the first ballot without selling his soul to the DLC devil? How else could he get enough support to stop Dean? Maybe I'm the only one that would be suspicious.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-02-02 12:18PM | 0 recs

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Re: Curious

no you are not and perceived distance from the DLC is correct since I can not find any statement of Rosenberg saying as much.

by Parker 2005-02-02 12:27PM | 0 recs

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Re: Curious

I've always accepted Rosenberg's independence from the DLC at face value. He claimed to be a reform candidate and I took him at his word. Others were and are free to disagree.

Pelosi, Reid and the DLC have been very clear that they consider Dean the biggest threat to their power base or control of the party or perception to the general public or whatever. I've never seen a good explanation of why the DLC types fear Dean. For me that was his strongest selling point.

A vital ingredient to any election is legitimacy. That is why many of us are skeptical that the elections in Iraq genuinely have any meaning. Legitimacy is determined solely by how well the election reflects the will of the people.

The election to DNC Chair is not transparent, it is not clear and it may not even be legitimate. Maybe all past "elections" have been rigged by the power brokers to serve their particular interests. This one is different.

If ABD wins at this point, I do not think either the grassroots or netroots will give the selection any legitimacy. Instead of starting fresh, with support from the grass/netroots, Rosenberg would start in the hole and have to overcome tremendous distrust and disillusionment.

If the DLC wants to crown Rosenberg, they probably still can. The grass/netroots can also take their energy and contributions with them to other political venues if the selection is seen as lacking legitimacy. It depends on how messy it gets for the DLC to stop Dean. If they can put a veneer of legitimacy on Rosenberg, maybe the grass/netroots will be content. Maybe not.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-02-02 12:36PM | 0 recs

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Re: Curious

Actually both Roemer and Rosenberg were waiting to withdraw until after the dust settled from the State of the Union.

(this according to Tim Grieve on Salon, who actually is talking to the Rosenberg campaign)

So basically Donnie is, for all practical purposes, the ABD's last, best hope. If you read the story upthread, what Donnie did was hear that Simon dropped out, didn't bother to check and posted on his blog that he and Roemer was the only ones standing between Dean and the abyss, one is assume.

For bloggers to speculate about this one thing, for Donnie on his official blog to use this to promote himself the Stop Dean guy is a serious breach of campaign ettiquette.

His press "representative" seems to be clueless in this regard, and the last time I checked, old net wise Donnie had not corrected the copy on the blog.

He did, however, add a new link for an out of date story which implied he was the new frontrunner.

OY!

by nanorich 2005-02-02 12:34PM | 0 recs

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Re: Curious

Agreed. But what is the point of Rosenberg not withdrawing at this point? Fowler certainly jumped the gun. Rosenberg may just be putting Fowler in his place and rightfully so. Fowler without question has serious helpings of egg on his face.

The question is, does Rosenberg want to make the concession in his own way, at his own time? Or does he still have plans to chop-block Dean with help from the DLC, the way Gephardt did during the primaries?

Only time and events will tell.

by Gary Boatwright 2005-02-02 12:39PM | 0 recs

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This is the quote from Salon War Room

http://tinyurl.com/48n3f

Draw your own conclusions.

by nanorich 2005-02-02 12:45PM | 0 recs

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Labor

These labor endorsements show just how fallacious are the charges that Dean will fracture the party by standing up for its left flank. Tom Buffenbarger is a right-wing unionist who has championed Bush's missile defense shield and called for "vengeance, pure and complete" after 9/11. Anna Burger is the Secretary Treasurer of the most progressive union in the country, SEIU. Dean has both of their endorsements. Labor is, if anything, even more fractious and volatile than the Democratic Party. Dean can elicit the enthusiastic support of these polar opposites; I sincerely doubt that Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid could do the same if they were running for DNC Chair.

by Woodhouse 2005-02-02 01:37PM | 0 recs