The Note

ByABC News
June 24, 2003, 9:42 AM

W A S H I N G T O N June 23&#151;<br> -- Yesterday, Howard Dean failed miserably in the eyes of all but 10 members of the Gang of 500 by performing - by Gang standards - absolutely unfabulous in a key Beltway ritual.

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NEWS SUMMARY

Today, Howard Dean's announcement speech was seen live by more supporters than any announcement in the history of presidential politics (we are pretty sure ).

Those two contrasts perfectly encapsulate the riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a question that is the essence of deanforamerica.com. If Howard Dean had a "normal" candidacy, yesterday's shifting, evasive, base-alienating performance on "Meet the Press" would have devastated his prospects.

A review of his senior staff's reaction suggests they couldn't have cared less, however.

To say Tim Russert was significantly more prepared for the interview than Howard Dean would be to insult Tim.

But as Dean made it official today at 1:00 pm in Burlington (and with thousands watching in big cities by satellite feed and on the web), the politico-media establishment continues to look at him as an anti-war pipsqueak, who, after yesterday, is decidedly not ready for primetime.

We could go into great detail about the substantive and stylistic reasons why Dean's performance was an utter disaster in the eyes of the Chattering Class, but doing so might give you a misleading impression.

Kit Seelye in the New York Times calls it straight: "Dr. Dean, a Democrat who prides himself on his straightforwardness, equivocated on several issues."LINK

Even the AP wire hinted at how gruesome it all was: "Interviewed Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' he seemed unsteady on some issues and prickly when second-guessed." LINK

Besides being evasive, Dean left himself vulnerable from the left, right, or both on the military, gay marriage, Social Security, and more.

He looked thin-skinned, unprepared, stuttering. His odd position on whether he had apologized to Bob Graham defied understanding.

What we say matters not.

What this next group of people says matters A LOT.

Some of the Doctor's supporters on the web didn't love the show. (A few also didn't appreciate the fact that Senator Russert asked hard questions. The nerve of that man!) LINK AND LINK

--"Could someone please explain to me why Dean said we need MORE troops in Iraq? I am an avid Dean supporter because I THOUGHT he was against the Second Iraqi War not for it."

--"Sitdown interviews are Governor Dean's worst venue "

--"Did the DLC submit the questions for Tim Russert?"

--"What Dean forgot on today's MTP is that he's not running against Tim Russert. (Incidentally, I'm a liberal Democrat, and the notion that Russert is a conservative is rather silly.)"

--"I was really really disappointed with the interview. I thought it was Deans big opportunity to really mark his place, but he failed. I feel like Tim is overly tough on Dean, compared to how easy he has gone on many other people in the past."

--"Good exposure, and surviving was even better."

--" Governor Dean missed a chance to hit the ball out of the park when Russert brought up Dean's apologies.:"

--"it was a minefield. i think dean did well considering the loaded questions russert asked. some of this answers were fantastic and some were lacking in smack-it-out-of-the-park clarity."

--"I think Dean did ok. I think that he mnight nopt have been fully prepped due to his taking time off to deal with family matters. He did a lot better on Charlie Rose."

It's those opinions not ours that have defined the Dean candidacy.

Dean, more than any other presidential hopeful,

# stumbled onto the war as a way to cut into the vein of anger at President Bush that courses through many liberal Democrats;

# sounds like a real person when he speaks;

# sounds like a real liberal when he speaks, even though he's not;

# managed to attract a gaggle of loyal, star-struck staff for whom Dean is truly godlike and inspiring;

# had the time to travel to New Hampshire and Iowa early and often;

# went for months without the Establishment taking him seriously, which allowed him to adopt a McCain-like truth-telling veneer and not be challenged when it would occasionally tarnish

# got early gay and lesbian money

Other campaigns realize that if THEIR candidate performed as Dean did yesterday, their announcement day would be ruined. And they think it is just a matter of time before Dean is held to the same standard as their horses are.

But that day won't be today.

No new news of Note seems to have come out of the various multi-candidate Democratic events over the weekend.

The Doctor has his Day mostly to himself, though Congressman Gephardt will get his fifth union endorsement today--from the Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

Tonight in New York, President Bush may shatter the $5 million fundraising barrier erected by a single Phil Gramm event in 1996. There may have been a change to the pool-press only policy.

Tom DeFrank and Joel Siegel raise the curtain: LINKVice President Cheney raises money in Hopkington, Massachusetts and Richmond, Virginia, today .

At this writing, Washington is braced for various Supreme Court decisions and/or retirement news, with potential political implications.

As you know, the Bush administration is trying to reap credit for drug benefits and other changes in Medicare.

On Monday, four top health officials are to embark on a three-day "better benefits tour," visiting cities from Miami to San Diego to tout such improvements. President Bush had favored the idea, rejected by House and Senate leaders, of offering drug coverage only to Medicare patients willing to join a private health plan, but Administration officials have sought to play down that rebuff.

( The Orlando Sentinel's Mark Silva suggests that any drug benefit President Bush can sign will aid his Florida re-elect effort in 2004.) LINK

Voting begins in the MoveOn primary on Tuesday and continues Wednesday. The winner will need more than 50% to gain the coveted endorsement, or else MoveOn will schedule another round of voting. (The Los Angeles Times' Ron Brownstein either buys into it, or gets it, depending on your point of view: "This New Age plebiscite could mark a significant turn in the 2004 race and a milestone in the development of the Internet as a political tool." LINK)

President Bush meets with Pakistan's president tomorrow at Camp David and returns to the White House for a celebration of Black Music Month. Wednesday, he has a joint press avail with EU summit leaders at the White House. Thursday, he has three international-ish events in DC.

And Friday, he attends two fundraisers in California.

The Democratic National Committee's Presidential Dinner this Wednesday is set to gross about $1.5 million for the party. All but Senators Kerry and Lieberman are confirmed to attend (though those two are maybes).

There are two major candidate forums this week. On Thursday, the League of Conservation Voters hosts a half dozen presidentials; on Saturday, the National Association of Latino Elected Officials and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus team up. (Senators Graham and Leiberman get their own special NALEO forum on Friday.).

Senate votes could ruin or delay both of those, however.

Senator Kerry is in Coralville, Iowa today; Pembroke, New Hampshire on Wednesday; and Tacoma, Washington for the Washington State Democratic Party's annual Albert D. Rossellini Dinner.

Senator Graham will spend part of the week in Florida;

Governor Dean will travel from Vermont to DC tomorrow.

From the schedule they put out, the Edwards campaign appears not to have scheduled anything for their candidate until Saturday's NALEO forum.

Howard Dean's big day:

The former Vermont governor hit a few morning shows today, and committed no news.

The Boston Globe 's Sarah Schweitzer has a front page story on the lively, brash, about-to-announce Dr. Dean, whom she describes as "[u]northodox, sharp-edged, and appealing enough to have earned him a corps of fervent supporters." LINK