As the Democratic presidential candidates tour the nation endlessly, voters are considering their options at the start of the primary season. Wesleyan students are also deciding between candidates and determining what factors are most important when making their decision.
Howard Dean, the former front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination, has lost a great deal of steam as competitor John Kerry won upset victories in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. The losses have hurt Dean’s ability to raise campaign money and threaten the long-term viability of his campaign.
Many students who support Dean view his decreasing funds as a sign of fair funding policies.
Arusha Gordon ’05, a leader of Wesleyan’s Generation Dean, was quick to contrast the high percentage of small donations made to the Dean campaign with Kerry’s record-breaking acceptance of $2,000 (the highest amount permitted for a single donation) contributions.
For many voters, the primary goal is to oust Bush, even if this means placing ideology on the back-burner. It is for this reason that many people believe candidates like Kerry and John Edwards have an advantage over Dean, whom his critics say is too quick-tempered. According to the New York Times, some political experts believe that Kerry’s successive victories have increased his momentum and popularity due to his perceived electability.
Gordon contended that Dean has the broadest appeal of the Democratic candidates.
“One of the things that impressed me most when I became involved in his campaign is the fact that his supporters include Republicans for Dean, Independents for Dean, Greens for Dean, and, of course, Democrats for Dean,” Gordon said. “I don’t think any of the other candidates have the same kind of grassroots support amongst ordinary Americans.”
Molly Hartman ’07, who also believes electability is important, does not support Dean.
“It’s hard to put my beliefs aside and pick someone who’s more moderate but it’s more important that we beat Bush,” Hartman said. “A little more liberal is better than what we have now.”
The most common sentiment among Dean supporters was admiration for Dean’s passion. Although many believe that he has the potential to win the election, they were quickest to praise him for his honesty and commitment to implementing change.
“I like Dean because he has the courage to stand up for what he believes in,” Gordon said. “I want a real change and I want someone who has the courage to stand up for what is right.”
Justin Schmidt ’06 conceded that Wesley Clark and Edwards are “more middle-of-the-road” but asserts that Dean, more than either of these men, has the potential to “take it to Bush.”
Andy Kutscher ’05, who co-led the Students for Clark group last semester, plans to take both of these factors into consideration when casting his vote in the New Jersey primary on Tuesday. Like Schmidt, he considers Clark a more mainstream candidate and supported him because he thought he had the greatest chance of defeating Bush.
With Bush’s fluctuating approval ratings, however, Kutscher feels he has more leeway to vote for a candidate he fully supports, and has decided to vote for Edwards.
“His views are closer to my own ideological position,” Kutscher said. “I will most likely just be trying to send a message to the party, which I feel has been moving to the right as I have been drifting further left.”
Although Dean continues to garner moral and financial support, he has lost some endorsements, most notably that of Alvaro Ciufuentes, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee’s Hispanic caucus. Ciufuentes has said that he was embarrassed by Dean’s speech in Iowa.
When asked about his rallying bellow on ABC’s Primetime Thursday, Dean’s response echoed that of the students who praise him for his passion.
“I was having a great time,” he said.
Many student supporters of Dean were quick to defend his skills as a politician.
“Dean perhaps isn’t typically presidential, if presidential means wearing a suit, schmoozing with Washington insiders, taking money from high-powered lobbyists, and saying what people want to hear,” Gordon said.
Schmidt agreed.
“Dean’s unorthodox,” he said. “His methods might not always work but he deserves a chance. Everyone’s worried that he’s uncontrolled but no one is making the argument that he is. Most people are smart enough to know that he’s politicking.”
Dean also conceded, however, that the infamous scream may have hurt his campaign. Many experts believe he has sedated his image since his third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Pundits have noted a more genial tone in his speeches as well as appearances by his wife, Judy Steinberg, who had been noticeably absent from her husband’s campaign proceedings before the bellowing. In particular, his speech following his second-place showing at the New Hampshire primary was considerably more sedate than the one he gave a week earlier in Iowa.
Clark has also had to modify his public image to appeal to skeptical voters. In particular, he has made attempts to soften his military persona and has attempted to convince wary Democrats of his loyalty to the party.
“Clark tries to defend his actions and say that they had been misunderstood,” said Nicole Weiskopf ’06. “He’s trying to backpedal.”
“Wesley Clark is the Democrats’ best hope of beating Bush,” said Erin Wisman ’06. “Clark’s military background and Southern heritage will appeal to conservatives and swing voters who may be looking for an alternative to Bush. Yet his platforms still uphold liberal ideals such as a woman’s right to choice and improving public education and healthcare.”
Students for Kucinich could not be reached for comment.
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