06-01-2004 22:13									#1
	Endorsements: Do they matter? Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Its always big news when someone important endorses a candidate. But does it really make a difference to that person's campaign?

Bill Bradley endorsed Howard Dean. Does this mean that Howard Dean will now receive all the votes Bradley did in 2000? Al Gore also endorsed him, which may help him a bit more...but honestly, does anyone really vote depending on endorsements?

Wesley Clark may be endorsed by the Clintons, which will most likely be a huge boost...but then again, will it? And just because the Native American Times endorsed him, will that mean he gets a majority of the Native American vote?

Willie Nelson endorses Dennis Kucinich. Will the aging hippies now vote for the K-meister?

What exactly do endorsements do for a campaign that would be a step back if not endorsed?

	06-01-2004 22:25									#2
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Union endorsements are quite valuable, along with other large group endorsements like AARP. Personal endorsements are quite limited in value except or the extra exposure of the actual endorsement. But there are some feeble minds out there that will actually vote for a person soley based on who Madonna said.

	06-01-2004 22:24									#3
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Well, it's definitely not so great an effect that Dean will recieve all of Bradley's votes, or that Clark is assured the Native American vote. If someone was a strong Bradley supporter in 2000 though, it might make them look more favorably on Dean.

	06-01-2004 22:55									#4
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Yes, endorsements matter, if just for the publicity. Dean's stock rose after Gore's endorsement, and people who had never heard of him took notice. Bradley's endorsement will serve to solidify his front-runner status. For the primaries, these are very important. If anything, it just makes his candidacy appear more unstoppable.

On an interesting note, the latest CNN poll had Dean reasonably close to Bush, with a 51%-46% margin in favor of the President. This is significant because the same poll showed the margin of voters likely or unlikely to vote for Bush was exactly the same - 51% likely, 46% unlikely. This means Democrats and the anti-Bush crowd are comfortable coelescing around his nomination. No other Democrats came close to that margin when put against Bush. That means electability, because you have a solid Democrat base instead of the fractures of 2000.

	06-01-2004 23:15									#5
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quote: Originally posted by Boris Godunov Yes, endorsements matter, if just for the publicity. Dean's stock rose after Gore's endorsement, and people who had never heard of him took notice. Bradley's endorsement will serve to solidify his front-runner status. For the primaries, these are very important. If anything, it just makes his candidacy appear more unstoppable. On an interesting note, the latest CNN poll had Dean reasonably close to Bush, with a 51%-46% margin in favor of the President. This is significant because the same poll showed the margin of voters likely or unlikely to vote for Bush was exactly the same - 51% likely, 46% unlikely. This means Democrats and the anti-Bush crowd are comfortable coelescing around his nomination. No other Democrats came close to that margin when put against Bush. That means electability, because you have a solid Democrat base instead of the fractures of 2000.

gore didnt have at least 46% in the polls at this point in 2000?

all the prior polls have shown worse Dean numbers head to head versus Bush, and worse than for other Dems. I wouldnt wager too much on this.

	06-01-2004 23:17									#6
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Why do endorsements by candidates who lost thier most recent elections matter?

	06-01-2004 23:38									#7
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President Bush endorsed Governor Bush

	06-01-2004 23:38									#8
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And?

	06-01-2004 23:40									#9
	Suffering from ads?

. . . . . and the Earth orbits around the Sun.

	06-01-2004 23:44									#10
	Suffering from ads?

He had lost his most recent election...

	07-01-2004 00:49									#11
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quote: Originally posted by lord of the mark gore didnt have at least 46% in the polls at this point in 2000?

No, in fact. At this point in 2000, Gore was trailing Bush by double-digit margins. It wasn't until the convention that Gore bounced ahead.

quote: all the prior polls have shown worse Dean numbers head to head versus Bush, and worse than for other Dems. I wouldnt wager too much on this.

Prior polls were before the major endorsements, and were reflecting unusual events in the news (Saddam's capture, which boosted Bush). What's significant about the above poll is that it tracked during the holidays, which usually benefits the incumbent, thanks to holiday cheer, but still showed a close race.

I wouldn't wager anything on the margin, either--what was most interesting was that Dean was able to get all 46% of those against Bush, which disproves the notion that he can't appeal to more than just the fringe of the Democrats.

	07-01-2004 00:51									#12
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I endorse Tiamat to be our next moderator!!!!!!!!!

	07-01-2004 01:07									#13
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I hope britney endorses someone.

	07-01-2004 01:21									#14
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Funny I thought the Gore endorsement of Dean actually raised Lieberman's stock some if only for the underdog/betrayal factor. Granted he is so far behind that it is a nonfactor.

	07-01-2004 03:08									#15
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Britney endorsed Bush

	07-01-2004 03:44									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe Funny I thought the Gore endorsement of Dean actually raised Lieberman's stock some if only for the underdog/betrayal factor. Granted he is so far behind that it is a nonfactor.

The memory hole is a wonderful thing to behold, is it not? Leiberman betrayed Gore first, last year, when he made comments blaiming Gore for their defeat and attacking Gore's position.

	07-01-2004 04:03									#17
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OTOH he completely shot his chances by not getting his warchest in order. He was waiting to see if his buddy Al was going to run before he through his hat into the ring. That has to count for something.

As for his comments they were hardly as damaging as the betrayal of Gore,as Gore had already decided not to seek office.

Truth be told he was on the money. Gore made a major mistake alienating the Clintons.

	07-01-2004 04:07									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe Truth be told he was on the money. Gore made a major mistake alienating the Clintons.

I would agree, but he shouldn't have said it.