The Hindu : Dean bows out of race

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

International

International

Dean bows out of race

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 19. Seeing the writing on the wall, the former Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean, bid farewell to his quest for the Presidency. This means that only two real candidates are in the fray though the Democratic Pack is formally four.

Senators John Kerry and John Edwards are now left to fight it out one-on-one until the Super Tuesday of March 2 when states like Maryland, Ohio, New York and California have their contests. And the two others — Congressman Dennis Kucinich and the Reverend Al Sharpton — are continuing to stay to press home their messages.

Mr. Dean was at one time seen as the person who could dominate the Democratic Presidential politics and take the battle into the Republican camp. But after 17 contests, zero wins, and top aides leaving the campaign — with or without his blessings — the time was basically up. For a person who raked in a solid $41 millions to his campaign chest and much of it through the Internet, Mr. Dean knew all too well that running his campaign in such states like New York and California is going to cost him a fortune.

Mr. Dean has asked some 200 of his delegates to stay with him and has called on his backers to fight through the remaining primaries and caucuses for the cause they have been in thus far. "Keep active in the primary. Sending delegates to the convention only continues to energise our party. Fight on in the caucuses. We are on the ballots. Use your network to send progressive delegates to the convention in Boston." He said he was not going to create trouble for the party or the final nominee. "I will not run as an independent or third party candidate." Mr. Dean did not endorse Mr. Kerry or Mr. Edwards. But his exit did bring in a lot of praise from both the Senators. Mr. Edwards said that Mr. Dean "has energised and revolutionised this race and excited a whole new generation of young people".

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