By John Fredericks
He made national headlines by coming from virtually nowhere to gain temporary frontrunner status in the 2004 race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Although former Vermont Governor Howard Dean’s nomination bid got iced one cold winter night in Iowa over nine years ago — and came to a screeching halt — the irreverent and sometimes bombastic orator gained a loyal following along the way.
His presidential campaign recruited an activist group of over one million national “Dean disciples” — 21,000 strong in Virginia — who follow their ideological hero to this day.
Now the one-time chairman of the Democratic National Committee wants to reignite his support base and put them to work in the Commonwealth to elect House Democrats.
Through the political organization he founded, Democracy for America (DFA) Dean has targeted five key House of Delegate seats in Virginia currently held by Republicans that he desperately wants to win in 2013.
The former DNC chair calls it: “turning purple districts blue.” And Dean is putting his money and his reputation where his mouth is.
“This is a proving ground for key state legislative races in 2014,” Dean said in a conference call with reporters on March 26. “Republicans control 58 percent of all state legislators in the country,” Dean lamented. “That is where they enact their radical right-wing agenda. We have to change that.”
OFA ON STEROIDS
Dean promised to pump $750,000 of his organization’s war chest into the five races, and pledged a super micro-targeting campaign effort that would rival the infamous Obama for America 2012 effort.
“Neighbors could be getting two completely different direct mail messages on the same day,” claimed Jody Murphy, Virginia House caucus director for the state Democratic Party.
Murphy added that the level and depth of data collection and micro messaging would be intense.
Dean outlined a DFA House campaign theme based on exploiting presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli’s more conservative past statements and positions.
“The radical tone of extreme right-winger Ken Cuccinelli – crazy Ken — is outside the Virginia mainstream,” Dean extolled. “Cuccinelli started the war on women, and Virginians in these districts want common sense middle of the road representatives.”
TWO RACES CHOSEN
Dean, a physician by trade, announced his group has chosen two of the five House seats held by Republican incumbents targeted for takeover: districts 86 and 87, both in Northern Virginia.
District 86 is currently held by Tom Rust (R) and went 61 percent for Tim Kaine (D) to 39 percent for George Allen (R) in 2012. Although two candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination to challenge Rust, which will be decided in a June 11 primary, Dean has endorsed political activist Jennifer Boysco.
Boysco served as Dean’s Virginia presidential campaign chair in 2003-2004.
In district 87, the Democrats will field retired Air Force officer Tom Bell, who ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2009 against Del. Bob Marshall (R).
Bell will have to unseat freshman David Ramadan (R), who has proved a tireless and relentless campaigner. The district favored Kaine over Allen last November by 56-43 percent.
When contacted, Ramadan was circumspect. “Bring it on,” he said.
Sources at Dean’s political group said the other three districts would likely be in Northern Virginia, the Peninsula and Virginia Beach. The 93rd district’s Mike Watson, another freshman (R-Williamsburg-Newport News), is said to be a prime target.
Jim Dean, Howard Dean’s brother and the Chairman of DFA, will appear on the John Fredericks Show tomorrow at 6:40 a.m.
John Fredericks is syndicated radio talk show host in Baltimore, Washington D.C & Virginia and can be heard M-F 6-9 a.m. on WTNT –AM 730 & 102.9FM in Balt-D.C., WLEE AM 990 in Richmond, WHKT AM 1650 in Tidewater and WBRG AM 1050 & 104.5 FM in Lynchburg – Roanoke- Charlottesville or streaming online at www.thejohnfredericksshow.com.
