HAIR VICTORIOUS IN IOWA. TRESS FOR SUCCESS!
Last night was the beginning of the real deal as the Democratic hopefuls make their way toward the Convention this Summer, in hopes of securing enough delegates to ensure their way on to the slate.
Truthful realities also made their first appearance, and big media and the press were stuck having to report just that.
No longer is the excellent and ground-breaking usage of the internet as a tool to engender ground level, grass roots support, as well as a way to raise huge sums of money, the big story. Prior to last night it would seem that big media and press had dubbed Howard Dean the font runner, but only for one reason: his internet marketing strength.
But that was not Howard Dean, or what he stands for. That was the work of savvy political operatives, taking advantage of newtech realities and using the it for tremendous and successful opportunity. Granted, those who joined up, donated and became a part of the Dean campaign were surely believers in what the doctor has to say. And good for them for breakoig this ground and supporting their candidate of choice.
This internet savvy may be newsworthy, but it is not worthy of mass media stipulation as representing a front runner. In this case, the money is not the indicator of a trend among voters or a condition of leadership or edge.
Rather, it creates a new campaign strategy and standard: the newest method to be adopted by all candidates: use the net to get the word out and to raise money
Howard Dean lost in Iowa because he is a one-note Johnny: he opposed and opposes and will continue to oppose the war. His profile as the outsider who will return the party to certain roots is cool, and encourages press analysis. It also appeals to those Democrats sitting left of the partyís center who have felt disenfranchised since Clinton so deftly grasped that the Centrist Democrat approach was a unifying method of attracting most Democrats and a good many fence-sitting Republicans.
With the internet machine in full throttle and Dr. Dean being deified as the media front runner, his gaffes and every other aspect of his campaign became front page news. This guy was raising bucks far and beyond that of his rivals, he swore off some available fed funds to firmly ensconce himself as a candidate of the people, not of the party machine. Good move, respectable, very gratifying and resounding to those loyal to him.
Pretty risky, or so it seemed to this observer, not a card-carrying Dean supporter, except for significant appreciation of the guyís name.
Dean did not appeal to Iowans in the key areas that influenced their caucus positions: The Economy, Health Care, National Security and Foreign Policy. And one very important factor in which he was lacking: the belief that as a candidate, the Doctor/former Governor from Vermont could unseat the incumbent. Not being perceived as being electable was the crucial issue.
Yeah sure he raised big money. Yeah, via his campaign handlers he grokked the new interconnected communications paradigm in a way that set records for fund raising. But no, none of that made him seem like the viable candidate of choice.
To the media and the press those were sexy enough traits to declare him a front runner. To those casting caucus votes in Iowa, the first true participants in the voting process in which regular people cast the ballot, Dean was behind the two leaders, both of whom were solidly ahead of him.
Superb use of the internet does not a front-running candidate make. So phooey on the media and the press, prematurely conferring front-runner status on Dr. Dean.
Kerry plus Edwards = 70% of the vote. Dr. Dean garnered 18%. Not even a quarter of the votes, despite all the press and coverage and deification as the front-runner.
And where were the pundits and the analysts when it came to John Edwards? Obviously not in touch with how the voters' felt.
Only over the final two or three days were the cable channels (most notably MSNBC) reporting that Edwards was making strides of significant note. This didn't come from nowhere, all of a sudden. This was a build, done th eold fashioned way. Just not in a way deemed newsworthy by those who had already reported on front runners and internet money machines.
How real and how interesting are these results? Hereís a measure by which to consider the meaning of this first foray into the process: record-setting voter turnout during a cold snap, colder weather than Iowa has had on Caucus Day in modern memory. Iowans take the caucus concept seriously. This is discussion and exchange of ideas and beliefs. And it is based on a majority system in which the process eliminates the weaker or less viable candidates. In such a system it turned out that Howard Dean was the third-runner. A distant third, at that.
Edwards was a no-name, who garnered very little press and not much belief or support among the pundits and the media. He did work the crowds, press the flesh, meet the people and kiss the babies. He came into Iowa with a credible, well-conceived traditional grass-roots politics plan: speak to as many groups and as often as possible, repeat the message, listen as well as orate, and stay on target and in focus.
While most of the press and media ignored Edwards, Iowans were hearing him, and liking what they heard. This no-name who lacks a solid internet base managed to appear more electable and credible to Iowa Democrats than the so-called media darling front runner.
So much for the power of being on the cover of every magazine and being a news story on oneís campaign prowess. The lesson from this first round is simple: It is the message, not the medium in which one raises the money, that motivates the voters.
Kerry and Edwards are more telegenic than Dr. Dean. And Dick Gephart, who has more to offer than the entire pack when it comes to knowledge of legislation and the true inside track on the process and making things happen in Washington, is less telegenic than the other three.
But in the final analysis, what do the two Iowa leaders have over Dean, Gephart, and the rest of the pack? Good presidential hair. Kerry and Edwards were tressed for success.