In the wake of a disappointing third-place finish in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, Howard Dean announced at a news conference Wednesday that he would leave the playing field for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The former governor of Vermont, while promising to endorse the eventual Democratic nominee, also vowed to continue a vague initiative he called a "campaign for change." While leaving out details of this ongoing campaign, Dean urged supporters and grass roots organization to work towards changing the party and the country.
"There is enormous institutional pressure in Washington against change, in the Democratic Party against change," Dean said. "Yet, you have already started to change the Party and together we have transformed this race."
Even though Dean had pledged that he would remain in the race even if he lost Wisconsin, even his supporters said that this did not come as a surprise. Although disappointed and deflated, the news did not lessen the resolve of Dean's most ardent supporters on campus.
Dean supporter Sarah Ayres '06, who worked for the campaign throughout the summer and fall terms, confessed disappointment, but said that Dean undeniably set the tone for the Democratic race. Ayres was elected a delegate to this summer's Democratic National Convention in Boston, and still plans to vote for Dean.
Ayres, echoing the former candidate, also sounded the call for change.
"This election proved that a lot of people in the country want change and that won't die with Dean's leaving the race," she said.
Jordan Kovnot '04, a Dean volunteer, said he hopes to continue helping Dean in the so-called "campaign for change." He also agreed that Dean's campaign truly changed the political landscape by energizing those who had been apolitical.
"I hope that something else comes out of this," Kovnot said. "It wasn't just young people, but the old and middle-aged who got excited about working in politics and working for change."
Longtime presumed front-runner Dean shocked the Democratic party by skyrocketing to the top of opinion polls and fundraising numbers, riding a wave of support stemming from his vocal opposition to the war in Iraq and his aggressive use of the internet over the past year. After weeks of intense scrutiny and several campaign mistakes leading up to the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses, Dean's standing in the race tumbled dramatically, culminating in a fiery speech following his loss there. Including his defeat Tuesday, Dean lost all 17 contests he entered.
Despite his collapse in the polls, government professor Linda Fowler said Dean deserves much credit for transforming the dynamics of the presidential race.
Prior to his exit, Dean himself charged that the other candidates mimicked his confrontational style by stepping up their attacks on the President.
"He, more than anyone, transformed the race from smoothening that was a coronation of a sitting president to a competitive race," Fowler said.
She also said that it is not uncommon for a nominee to stay in the race, but not actively campaign, as Dean will do. Republican Pat Buchanan did the same in 1996, as did Democrat Jesse Jackson in 1984, according to Fowler. She said Dean could gain some leverage at the convention, as he will still have delegates.
After several difficult weeks for Dean, including the resignation of his campaign chairman and firing of his campaign director, Fowler said Dean's exit from campaigning was a wise move.
"I think he did the graceful thing, which is to pat his supporters on the back and encourage them to keep working hard to continue to change their country," she said.
