Blog For Arizona

On the Way

First Down! Dean has won the Washington D.C. Non-Binding Primary, proving his appeal to minority voters and an ability to compete where other major candidates fear to tread.

Dean won with 43% to Al Sharpton's surprising strong 34%, Mosely-Braun's 12% and Kucinich's anemic 8%. It is certainly no accident that Sharpton's ambush of Dean over the composition of his cabinet in a 98% white state came just days before this contest. It was canny for Sharpton to save that punch for just before the primary which is likely to finish the very best in. Dean was expected to win with about 50% of the votes, so Sharpton may have knocked Dean back 8-10 points with the media he was able to generate and the Black and Brown.

How long this effect will last is certainly open to debate. I suspect that if were to show up anywhere soon it would be in South Carolina polling. If Sharpton is able to generate some heat there, he is as likely to pull from all candidates as he is from Dean.

The finish of this primary will not recieve too much press, I suspect. The expected winner won. The turnout was somewhat low (15%), though higher than average for this event. No delegates were won. I suspect Dean will not visit DC to celebrate victory. His schedule was open on the 14th, possibly in case of exceeding expectations in DC, there was an option to pull media focus there. Having not beat expectations, I expect Dean will just refocus on Iowa.

posted by Michael Bryan @ 1/14/2004 02:25:00 AM