Princeton (NJ) straw poll shows Dean & Clark in dead heat

[pruner]

Princeton Democrats deadlock over presidential candidates.

Princeton Democrats deadlocked on a presidential nominee Sunday as former Gov. Howard Dean and former Gen. Wesley Clark tied in a Princeton Community Democratic Organization straw poll.
   
Local Democrats, after hearing brief speeches about each of the nine prospective presidential candidates and a short question-and-answer session, cast 80 ballots.
   
Dr. Dean, a physician from Vermont, and Gen. Clark, a retired four-star general from Arkansas, led the field with 26 votes each.
   
State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton Borough), who spoke on behalf of the Dean campaign, said he was not surprised by the tight contest.
   
"The two groups have been active locally," Mr. Gusciora said. "And it isn't two divergent groups, and I think we are both committed to defeating George Bush."
   
The first-ever PCDO straw poll drew a "fantastic" turnout of over 100, said Andrew Koontz, president of the organization.
   
Voting was open to all registered Democrats in Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. Non-affiliated voters or independents who declared membership in the Democratic Party that evening were eligible to vote he said.
   
Green Party members and Republicans were not permitted to vote, he said.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10531072&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=425695&rfi=6

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. Not bad!

Considering the General is months behind everyone else. I say, The more Clark says, the more supporters he'll have. His campaign will be ON FIRE after his media blitz in NH. JMCPO

[bryant69]

4. I hope so.

I like Dean, but I don't think he can make it in the general election. Particularly on Foreign affairs/national security, which will be the key issue in the 2004 election.

Bryant
Check it out--> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[moz4prez]

2. by all appearances, they'd make a terrific team

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[Wickerman]

3. I don't know, I read on DU

that Clark had "fizzled out"

:eyes:

[mikehiggins]

5. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz

The game plan this year seems to be the convention. I doubt anyone who wins any delegates at all is going to drop out until then. There certainly is no reason for Sharpton, Bruan or Kuchinich to do so. They already know they aren't going to win--Sharpton because he SHOULDN'T, Bruan & the K-man because the party and the nation aren't ready for people like them.

Edwards might do the traditional thing and drop out if he doesn't pull his campaign together but I don't see Gephardt walking away from his last chance to move up.

Lieberman, Kerry and Gephardt will stay in hopes of keeping Dean from getting a first ballot victory. Once the first ballot is done, most delegates will be free to vote as they will. I'm fairly certain each of the "big three" will maneuver hard to get the nod as the "establishment" candidate and pick up the superdelegates along with whatever Dean delegates they can pick up.

If Clark gets enough delegates to have a shot, and the Deanites are denied THEIR candidate, I wonder what will happen.

;^)