There was an interesting article in the Boston Globe yesterday about John Edwards’ efforts to woo support from Howard Dean and his legions of fans. The more I think about it, though, the less sense it makes to me.
Edwards is looking for a break that will give him some much-needed traction. Super Tuesday is less than a week away and the polls aren’t encouraging. Edwards has been fairly aggressive in wooing Dean and his supporters, even adding a few lines to his (really good) stump speech, singling out his admiration for his “good friend, Howard Dean,” and crediting the Vermont governor for having “changed the face of American politics.”
If Dean were to come out in support of Edwards, it might give his campaign a boost at a crucial time. At this point, however, the courtship is ongoing and Dean seems hesitant to strike a formal deal.
Edwards called Dean three times last week, according to Edwards’s aides. In each case, Edwards was the suitor, seeking Dean’s backing, according to a senior Dean adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The discussions, said aides on both sides, have been preliminary and casual, with little talk of a possible endorsement.
Edwards, in an interview, said he told Dean: “‘I want your help, I want your support.’ He said in response: ‘I am very interested in your campaign, I think you’ll be the best candidate against George Bush. But I need more time to think about it.'”
“Every time we talk it’s been very positive,” Edwards said. “But he says he just needs some more time.”
Fine; I get that. Dean obviously likes Edwards far more than John Kerry, as evidenced by the public statement a couple of weeks ago — before Dean folded his campaign — that he believes Edwards would make a stronger general election candidate than Kerry.
So what’s stopping him? Apparently, Dean is still a little worried about upsetting Kerry — and that’s the part that doesn’t make any sense to me.
The Boston Globe article explained:
Dean has become wary of reiterating his support [for Edwards], in case Kerry wins the nomination, an outcome that might leave Dean in the political wilderness. In his departure speech, Dean vowed to support the eventual Democratic nominee. He also covets a prime role at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July, an event whose agenda will be entirely controlled by the nominee.
“He’s aware of the old saying, ‘If you’re going to kill the king, make sure you kill the king,'” said the senior Dean adviser. “Otherwise, it puts him in a bad spot.”
I don’t mean to sound obnoxious, but if Dean is worried about maintaining a positive relationship with John Kerry then he just hasn’t been paying attention.
The point is, when it comes to Kerry, Dean is already in the “political wilderness.” He’s already in a “bad spot.” The bad blood between these two is obvious. No two Dem candidates disliked each other more — on a personal level — than Kerry and Dean. They bickered incessantly for nearly a year over just about everything. Over time, their disagreements grew personal as Dean labeled Kerry a “Republican,” with “bad judgment” whose “Bush-lite” agenda can’t win in November.
Does Dean honestly believe that this is a relationship that can be mended? If Kerry wins the nomination, and ultimately the presidency, does Dean think Kerry will go out of his way to help his old pal Howard?
I’m not saying Dean should endorse Edwards. If he wants to, fine; that’s up to him. I’m saying that if Dean is withholding support for Edwards because he wants Kerry to do him a favor down the road, his hopes are in vain.