BigSoccer P&CE Democratic Caucus Runoff - Clark v. Dean

Here are the results from the first round of voting:

Clark: 16 (28%) - GringoTex, YanksFC, nicephoras, NGV, bungadiri, Demosthenes, schwantzme, Matrim55, monop_poly, bojendyk, paulocesar, dark knight, Qdog, Mike Segroves, Elizabeth III, BlueMeanie,
Dean: 21 (37%) - CosmosKramer, joseph pakovits, obie, MikeLastort2, SueB, Norsk Troll, Dolemite, bmurphyfl, tcmahoney, Roel, NER_MCFC, yossarian, billreeves, NateP, DevilDave, ElJefe, He's In Fashion, Saltenya94, Finnegan, verybdog, BillQ
Edwards: 5 (9%) - John Galt, SoFla Metro, oman, SABuffalo786, Malaga CF fan
Gephardt: 2 (3.5%) - BenReilly, futbolrey
Kerry: 2 - Smiley321, Zamphyr
Kucinich: 5 (9%) - DoctorJones24, Mel Brennan, Dan Loney, Freestyle2000, sebakoole
Lieberman: 5 (9%) - Stilger, Ludahai, dfb547490, VFish, Garcia
Sharpton: 1 (2%) - SObearCal

No one received over 50%; hence, we go to runoff. People who voted for candidates who failed to get 15% of the vote can now move their vote to another candidate, or abstain. If you didn't vote in Round One, you cannot vote in Round Two. So, given the IRV selections from Round One, we are at:

Clark: 17 (16 + SObearCal) - 43.6%
Dean: 22 (21 + Dan Loney) - 56.4%

Very close race; could go either way at this point. The people who can vote in Round Two are:

John Galt
SoFla Metro
oman
SABuffalo786
Malaga CF fan
BenReilly
futbolrey
Smiley321
Zamphyr
DoctorJones24
Mel Brennan
Freestyle2000
sebakoole
Stilger
Ludahai
dfb547490
VFish
Garcia

Supporters of Clark or Dean, feel free to try to persuade your Round Two voters to choose your side.

 

I think that counts as an abstention.

[obscure TV commercial reference] Look at the right of that Gep rally photo. Who knew that Mr. Whipple was a Gep supporter? [/obscure TV commercial reference]

 

Clark: 22
Dean: 22

bojendyk cannot vote in the runoff because (unless I missed it) no vote for a non-15% candidate was recorded for him/her in Round One.

Yet to vote:
John Galt
SoFla Metro
oman
SABuffalo786
futbolrey
Smiley321
Zamphyr
DoctorJones24
Mel Brennan
Freestyle2000
Stilger
Ludahai

I like Clark -- really do, and would have no problem supporting him -- but when we're talking about who could actually win this thing, Dean has put together the best message, the best organization, and the best attitude when it comes to beating Dubya. When you talk to Dean supporters, what you hear are people who cannot wait to vote for him. They have raised over $50 million on average donations of $78. They have put together a grassroots effort that can be leveraged not just for the general election, but also for House, Senate, and gubernatorial elections in November. Conventional wisdom is that the Presidency will be decided by get-out-the-vote efforts, and Dean has been able to rise up from absolute nothing and assemble the most formidable ground force ever.

Look at the media -- they are frightened of Dean because they know that Dean cannot be put into a simple "he's liberal / he's angry" box like they want to do to whoever the Dem candidate is. Clark, for all his assets, is basically Gore with combat pay.

Neocons have taken over the national public debate, and this is a time for Dems to get up and take the country back. We need a bold leader, someone who is not afraid to take hits and return them. Let's face it -- Karl Rove would rape his mother if it won an election. Clark has not shown himself to be that bold leader (yet). Dean has.

 

Dean as the anti-Frist? Perhaps. Either one of these two would have a job in the other's Administration. Clark as Sec of State or Ambassador to the UN would be fine by me.

Long-time Dean opponent Alterman is pushing for a Clark / Dean ticket because the Dems, while they may not like Dean's outsider status, need to keep his campaign staff in the game through November to have a shot.