Does Dean want Kerry to win South Carolina?

[windansea]

Does Dean want Kerry to win South Carolina?

I think so, perverse as it sounds. a) Dean's strategy, as outlined in the Holiday Inn bar Monday night by Joe Trippi, requires a one-on-one matchup against Kerry, which the Dean camp thinks it can win on insider-vs-outsider grounds--and if that fails (which it probably will) on general Buyer's Remorse grounds. b) If Kerry loses South Carolina, that slows his momentum a bit. But if Kerry wins South Carolina, Edwards' candidacy is dead dead dead, effectively leavng the two-man race Dean desperately needs. It would be such a strategic boost for Dean that I think he should immediatly dispatch hundreds of his orange-hatted just-tell-me-what-to-do volunteers down South to work for ... Edwards! If they do for him what they did for Dean in Iowa (i.e. alienate voters) Kerry will sweep to victory. ... Of course, if it helps Dean for Kerry to win South Carolina that might mean it helps Kerry for Kerry to lose South Carolina (to Edwards)! That would keep Edwards in the race, preventing a single Stop Kerry candidacy. And Edwards, locked into his "positive" image, is unlikely to rip Kerry up the way Dean might. ... Update: Ellis takes exactly the opposite view, arguing that Kerrry must kill Edwards off now. But he dismisses Dean as "finished," which seems a little premature. ... 1:27 A.M.

It was fun, in the early reports, to hear reporters, following the pre-vote story line (and obvious press preference) in trying to subtly portray the N.H. results as an encouraging showing for the talented young John Edwards and a disastrous night for the hapless Wesley Clark, even though both of them got more or less exactly the same number of votes. ... The script was later adjust to accommodate the reality that the numbers were not cooperating....12:58 A.M.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2094399/

[windansea]

1. kick n/t

[blm]

2. Mickey Kaus pulling for Dean. Charming.

.

3. I noticed that about the reporters with Clark and Edwards also

I just listen to the radio and they were doing it on public radio.
Geez!!!

[windansea]

4. yep..the "script" was a bit obvious n/t

[On the Road]

5. Dean Wants a One-on-One, But NOT YET!

If Kerry wins SC, there is a good chance he will sweep the country.

Dean would fare better if Edwards and Clark were the big winners next week with Dean picking up at least one state. Then Kerry would no longer be the front-runner, and it would be a four-way race.

Once the focus shifts away from the red states, Dean and Kerry could go head-to-head again without the mojo that Kerry carries right now.

It's a tricky combination, but stranger things have happenned. Even with the regional disadvantage next week, I think Kerry needs to stumble or be wounded by an attack to stop the momentum.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Yeah, just like Dean wanted Kerry to win Iowa and New Hampshire.

:eyes:

[Westegg]

7. So crazy it just might work. NOT.

[TexasPatriot]

8. The problem with Trippi's strategery

is that if Kerry does well on Feb 3, my bet is Clinton will attempt to unite the party. If he'd finished within 5, maybe he could make the 2-man case... but considering his dim prospects in the Feb 3 states... Maybe he'll poll well by monday - we'll see. But right now, he's practically got joementum.

[windansea]

9. heh!!

it will be interesting to see who goes where with their efforts...best way to do this is watch where they all spend money on TV ads

[theboss]

10. Not if Kerry keeps winning by huge margins

Yes, Dean would love to clear the decks and go one-on-one with Kerry.

But if it becomes one on one and Kerry has a landslide win in Iowa (where Dean finished third), a commanding win in NH, and a win in SC (where Dean finishes third or even fourth), well, that's Jerry Brown in '92 territory. You are still in the race but more as an antagonist than credible opponent.

I think, at this point, Dean needs Kerry to lose and lose often. A win would also help.