AH Challenge: Dean '04

With a POD no earlier than Dean's announcement of his candidacy (June 23, 2003) have Howard Dean win both the Democratic primaries and the general elections.
 
It's doubtful this would get him to the White House, but no "Dean Scream" might help him last longer in the primaries.
 
If he keeps himself calm after Iowa, and have a much more modest speech he might have more of a chance in New Hampshire. If he can win in New Hampshire, the race becomes Kerry vs. Dean as opposed to Kerry vs. Edwards. If Dean can get some momentum behind him, he might be able to get the nomination. But he probably loses to President Bush.
 
A 2% difference between the two candidates OTL isn't a statistical certaintey. 2004 wasn't a landslide comparable to, say '96 or '92, or the tsunamis that were all three 80s elections, '72, or FDR's four elections :cool:

A Dean v. Bush contest could very easily go either way.
 
Fiscal discipline in the campaign would have helped. Despite raising large sums, the campaign was largely broke by the time the primary campaign got going in earnest. There were some talented people at the campaign HQ in Burlington, but conserving resources was not a strength of theirs.
 
Top