2004: Senator Bob Graham Rises

[Maxwell]

June 2003

"Hereby today, I resign as Secretary of State. I can not, in good conscience, continue under this administration as it stands, they are moving in a deeply wrong place in my view and I will no longer stand for it.

I am also announcing another thing. My experiences are not political, they entirely within the scope of the relations of the United Statess on a global scale. We need a leader who understands these stresses, and President Bush has been completely tone deaf when it comes to these issues and its time someone on our side of the aisle stood up and said it, I am running for President against George W. Bush for the Republican Nomination because it's time to move to a better place on foreign and domestic policy!"



"I accept both Secretary Powell's resignation and his challenge to me, but I would like him to know that he didn't seem to have that much of a problem doing things when he was doing it!"



Do you approve of the job George W. Bush has done?
Yes: 48%
No: 47%
Undecided: 5%

Republican Polls:
President George W. Bush: 55%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 19%
Undecided: 26%

"Not many people are thinking this challenge will gain much traction, but I think it does hurt Bush in the long run because this guy was his major foreign policy expert who has now completely turned his back on him, which isn't a good sign for the surge." - Joe Scarborough

"We shouldn't be challenging fellow Republicans from the LEFT. We need to be working them to the RIGHT, thats how we get conservative policies, but that was never Colin Powell's objective, obviously" - Rush Limbaugh

Howard Dean announces Presidential run



"This administration has been a colossal failure on just about every issues and I think Secretary Powell's sentiments are generally correct, but we don't want Secretary Powell, we want a completely new face in Washington and that's what I bring!"

Democratic Primary Polls:
Howard Dean: 17%
Dick Gephardt: 14%
John Kerry: 13%
Joe Lieberman: 10%
Bob Graham: 5%
Al Sharpton: 4%
John Edwards: 3%
Carol Moseley Braun: 1%
Dennis Kucinich: 1%
Undecided: 32%

Will he or won't he? General Clark still not making any plans



Graham talks of good news on his health!



"Ladies and gentleman, the doctors have reported that I will be very much back to my usual shape after the surgery, with no worrying needed from anybody. I will be back on the trail in a way you've never seen me before."

[Maxwell]

I like this.

I was hoping you would

[Maxwell]

July 2003

Clark says no, endorses Powell, joining Virginia Senator John Warner



"I believe Powell is a learned man and he's earned his way to where he is now, and I believe he will be the best path forward. I wouldn't want to run because I think my policies aren't thought up enough, to be honest, and I think the leader of the free world is someone who is both learned in foreign policy, but also domestic."

Republican Primary:
President George W. Bush: 58%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 25%
Undecided: 17%

Iowa:
President George W. Bush: 68%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 22%
Undecided: 10%

New Hampshire:
President George W. Bush: 48%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 36%
Undecided: 16%

South Carolina:
President George W. Bush: 65%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 21%
Undecided: 14%

New York (Powell's Home State):
President George W. Bush: 47%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 40%
Undecided: 13%

Phone Call with Bush and Rove:

Bush: look at those polls Karl! Powell ain't gonna beat me. I'm too powerful hehe
Rove: I wouldn't be too sure, he's gained 6 points in two weeks, and the media will be much more sympathetic to his plea.
Bush: Right, but I got Sadd-ham in the bag already, so his whole schtick will be for nothin', and he'll endorse me and it'll all be over
Rove: That's our hope, but Bushie, we can never be too sure about this: Powell is a trust-worthy guy.
Bush: Trust worthy my butt, Karl. I've got the magic, I've got you. Just dig up some dirt, tell a little story, make a little poof and make him gone when he's my troubles. Right now he's not my troubles Karlisimo, so relax.
Rove: I just think you're underthinking it.
Bush: And I think you're overthinking it, so there.

Graham gets a shocking early endorsement from popular Virginia Governor Mark Warner



"Senator Bob Graham is a man who believes that all politics is local. I think its time we go back to this thinking, after four years of big big big with George Bush. Graham understands people because he's represented Florida for so long and has positions that are consistent and yet they're malleable because he so much values the voters of Florida. lets put a candidate that values people in the White House!"

Democratic Primary Polls:
Howard Dean: 20%
Dick Gephardt: 15%
John Kerry: 14%
Joe Lieberman: 9%
Bob Graham: 7%
Al Sharpton: 4%
John Edwards: 3%
Carol Moseley Braun: 2%
Dennis Kucinich: 1%
Undecided: 25%

Democratic Debate coming soon...



Edwards still not sure



"The Presidency sounds interesting, but I'm so concerned about the people of North Carolina that I will put off that decision for a long while."

[Maxwell]

Edwards not to run!



"I will be most definitely running for re-election in North Carolina, as my fundraising numbers have been somewhat disappointing and my poll numbers aren't showing any improvement. I love the support that I have been getting, but its not my time."

Graham and Dean stand out in debate!



"The surge was wrong, and I find it revolting that Senator Kerry, Minority Leader Gephardt, and Senator Lieberman can stand here and want to be the nominee when they support the key failure of the Bush administration."



"I don't think being a moderate disqualifies me from being the Democratic nominee because I feel that Americans have individual views where they don't stand eye to eye with the party on and so do I. We need a leader in the party who is more like the people in the party."

Democratic Primary Polls:
Howard Dean: 23%
Dick Gephardt: 14%
John Kerry: 14%
Bob Graham: 12%
Joe Lieberman: 8%
Al Sharpton: 5%
Carol Moseley Braun: 2%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%
Undecided: 20%

"While light on charisma, Bob Graham is certainly making headlines for the way he is campaigning now. He's energetic, he's getting to the voters, and he's trying to make a connection in a way that only Howard Dean is doing as well. He just got a lighter shade of dark horse I think" - Chris Matthews

"I never thought that Bob Graham would get beyond that regional appeal. Maybe he can win this thing!" - DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe in a private meeting

FAILURE: Bush fumbles first debate - hard



"It's hard for me to think on that issue, but Secretary Powell clearly stands on the wrong side!"

Who won the Debate?:
Colin Powell: 69%
George W. Bush: 11%
Tie: 15%
Not Sure: 5%

Powell remains behind Bush by double digits, but has pulled ahead in New Hampshire!



Republican Primary:
President George W. Bush: 56%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 34%
Undecided: 10%

Iowa:
President George W. Bush: 64%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 31%
Undecided: 5%

New Hampshire:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 46%
President George W. Bush: 45%
Undecided: 9%

South Carolina:
President George W. Bush: 62%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 29%
Undecided: 9%

Senator McCain endorses Colin Powell



"We need a strong military and a smart strategy for the future, and Colin Powell is a great friend of mine who has the exact ideas of how to do both of those things. I believe President Bush has been working with an iron fist and is not as open as Former Secretary Powell and I believe a pragmatic but firm approach is what we need."

Could he do it? Colin Powell surging in the polls/endorsements raking up!

[Maxwell]

August 2003


Senator Graham numbers start to rise in New Hampshire after surprisingly large fundraiser there!



New Hampshire Polls:
Governor Howard Dean: 25%
Senator John Kerry: 20%
Senator Bob Graham: 13%
Minority Leader Dick Gephardt: 10%
Senator Joe Lieberman: 10%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Reverend Al Sharpton: 2%
Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun: 1%
Undecided: 16%

Iowa Polls:
Governor Howard Dean: 25%
Minority Leader Dick Gephardt: 22%
Senator John Kerry: 12%
Senator Joe Lieberman: 8%
Senator Bob Graham: 7%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Reverend Al Sharpton: 2%
Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun: 2%
Undecided: 19%

South Carolina Polls:
Governor Howard Dean: 18%
Minority Leader Dick Gephard: 17%
Senator John Kerry: 15%
Senator Bob Graham: 10%
Reverend Al Sharpton: 8%
Senator Joe Lieberman: 4%
Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun: 2%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich: 1%
Undecided: 25%

No traction for Lieberman, considering escape from the race!



"I believe we still need a strong military, with President Bush obvious approaching it the wrong way. Apparently, many of my fellow Democrats aren't thinking the same, but let's brave on for a while longer."

Kerry campaign a mess, says leaked conversation from top advisor



"We have no comment on it right now, we are dealing with the situation and trying to keep it under control, thank you, and goodbye."

President Bush continues to collapse under himself, approvals drop



Do you approve of President George W. Bush?
Yes: 44%
No: 51%
Undecided: 5%

National:
President George W. Bush: 53%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 39%
Undecided: 8%

Iowa:
President George W. Bush: 59%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 35%
Undecided: 6%

New Hampshire:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 54%
President George W. Bush: 42%
Undecided: 4%

South Carolina:
President George W.Bush: 60%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 32%
Undecided: 8%

Phone Calls with Bush and Rove:
Bush: Karl I thought you said you had this thing in the bag, whats goin' on.
Karl: I didn't say I had this in the bag, I told you to watch out.
Bush: No ya didn't Karl! I need ya to work your magic on this guy. Find out some dirt, do some stuff and get back to me.
Karl: It's not going to be easy, but now it looks like we'll have to.
Bush: You're tootin right we have to! This is serious stuff, Karl, and I don't wanna lose cause of good old Powellie. Kapisch?
Karl: Kap...

Hang-up.

Powell fundraiser racks in serious dollars, military endorsements



"This president has extended power way too far in my belief and is too conservative! It's time we go back to the Republicanism that made America the country we are today, not the backwards conservatism endorsed by President Bush. I served under him to help him and he clearly didn't want my help. Let's have a leader who will listen to his advisers and not just his Vice President."

[Maxwell]

September-November 2003

Kerry barely manages to hold on to double digits



Democratic Primary Polls:
Howard Dean: 26%
Dick Gephardt: 17%
Bob Graham: 15%
John Kerry: 10%
Joe Lieberman: 8%
Al Sharpton: 5%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%
Carol Moseley Braun: 1%
Undecided: 15%



"We're still holding up in this race, we're still holding on all over the country, and I think its terrific because it shows a change in the atmosphere that we need."



"What I'd say to Howard Dean is don't measure the drapes just yet, sir. He's acting as if this nomination process is over, when it is far from over. I was polling near the bottom of the pack, Dean has been holding a lead a long way of the campaign, and I plan to overtake him when we get over to New Hampshire and the South."

Bush dips below 50 in a Republican Primary



"After continuously poor performances from the President in the Republican debates and nasty negative advertising of his campaign, he's finally tanking in places other than New England. He's at 49% nationwide, close, very close, to Secretary Powell's 44%. He's catching up in ways Bush may have never expected." - Chris Matthews

National:
President George W. Bush: 49%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 44%
Undecided: 7%

Iowa:
President George W. Bush: 51%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 45%
Undecided: 4%

New Hampshire:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 57%
President George W. Bush: 40%
Undecided: 3%

Ridge announces leave from administration, endorses Powell



December update... its a whammy!

[Maxwell]

Ladies and Gentlemen... We Got Him!



Colin Powell is so wrong cause my policies have worked, and worked to a great effect!

National:
President George W. Bush: 56%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 40%
Undecided: 4%

Iowa:
President George W. Bush: 55%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 43%
Undecided: 2%

New Hampshire:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 52%
President George W. Bush: 46%
Undecided: 2%



"The battle isn't over, in fact, the administration has no idea what to do next and we will be going nowhere under this administration."



Gephardt catching up in Iowa

Iowa Polls:
Governor Howard Dean: 30%
Minority Leader Dick Gephardt: 29%
Senator Bob Graham: 9%
Senator John Kerry: 10%
Senator Joe Lieberman: 7%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Reverend Al Sharpton: 2%
Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun: 2%
Undecided: 8%



Dean lead in New Hampshire stronger than ever

New Hampshire Polls:
Governor Howard Dean: 29%
Senator John Kerry: 21%
Senator Bob Graham: 14%
Minority Leader Dick Gephardt: 13%
Senator Joe Lieberman: 10%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Reverend Al Sharpton: 2%
Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun: 1%
Undecided: 7%

Coming up... primary results!

[Maxwell]

Blue- Dick Gephardt
Light Blue - Howard Dean
Purple - Bob Graham
Dark Blue - John Kerry

Gephardt swipes Iowa from Dean!



"The voters have made their voices loud and clear! We don't want a Dean Presidency!"

Iowa Caucus Results:
Minority Leader Dick Gephardt: 38%
Governor Howard Dean: 32%
Senator Bob Graham: 13%
Senator John Kerry: 11%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Senator Joe Lieberman: 3%
Reverend Al Sharpton: 2%
Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun: 1%

"Gephardt gets a boost from this win, but New Hampshire will not prove to be a place where his momentum continues, as his campaign has been avoiding the state rather rampantly. Dean has a very clear lead here, and the person who is supposed to fight him for New Hampshire clearly is running a lackadasical campaign. Graham might pull an upset for second in the state like he did for third here. Still, this looks like its going to the end." -Chris Matthews

"Quite simply, Lieberman is finished." - David Gergen

"For a joke campaign, i'm surprised that Kucinich even got 4%. That alone is impressive to me." - John King

Post-Iowa National Poll:
Howard Dean: 26%
Dick Gephardt: 24%
Bob Graham: 19%
John Kerry: 8%
Joe Lieberman: 6%
Al Sharpton: 4%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Undecided: 10%

Post-Iowa New Hampshire Poll:
Howard Dean: 32%
John Kerry: 18%
Bob Graham: 16%
Dick Gephardt: 13%
Joe Lieberman: 9%
Dennis Kucinich: 5%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 5%

Post-Iowa South Carolina Poll:
Dick Gephard: 25%
Howard Dean: 17%
Bob Graham: 16%
John Kerry: 12%
Al Sharpton: 10%
Joe Lieberman: 3%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%
Undecided: 15%

Republican Primary



Light Blue - George W. Bush
Blue - Colin Powell
Purple - Tie

Bush beats Powell in a landslide!



"I understand Colin Powell wants to drag this on til the end of time, but we need a United ticket to match the United States!"

Iowa Caucus Results:
President George W. Bush: 61%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 39%



"I won't give up. The Live Free or Die folks of New Hampshire will decide in which direction our nation goes, and I have a good feeling about it!"

Post-Iowa New Hampshire Poll:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 49%
President George W. Bush: 48%
Undecided: 3%

Doom for the Powell Campaign? Will Graham make another upset? Will Gephardt take his Iowa win and turn it into a nomination? Is Dean still relevant? More next time!

[Maxwell]

Senator Graham makes big stand in New Hampshire



"We need a leader who represents the people he leads, the people of New Hampshire know this, so I hope they make that voice heard during the primary!"



"Look, I'll say this: Mr. Gephardt has not taken the front-runner banner from me. Long before he was expected to win the primary of Iowa, he lost it, than he gained it back. We still beat third by a large margin, and while i respect him, Bob Graham doesn't have the power to win this race, I do. It's time we BEAT George W. Bush, not cower to his feet!"

"This looks like a battle between Dean and Graham, even though Kerry is still in second, it's worth noting that his campaign seems dead. Kerry's been campaigning in the state all day, hoping for something to work out, but will it?" - Chris Matthews

Democrats Last New Hampshire Poll:
Howard Dean: 33%
John Kerry: 18%
Bob Graham: 17%
Dick Gephardt: 14%
Joe Lieberman: 8%
Dennis Kucinich: 6%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 3%

Colin Powell looms large in New Hampshire, but can he beat President Bush?



"New Hampshire, you're all I have left. I stand before the voters as the alternative to the years of lackluster economic growth, invasive foreign policy, and things that have doomed us to this state that we are in. I am promising a new era of Republican leadership, one that goes back to Reagan, but also looks forward to the future. President Bush doesn't provide that."



"We are winning the war! We can't turn back now!"

Post-Iowa New Hampshire Poll:
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 49%
President George W. Bush: 49%
Undecided: 2%

Can Senator Graham win the fight for second? Can Colin Powell hold on in New Hampshire? Will President Bush end the primary debacle that he has?

[Maxwell]

Democratic Primary



Orange - Howard Dean
Yellow - Bob Graham

Dean wins the New Hampshire Primary by double digits!



New Hampshire Result:
Howard Dean: 35%
Bob Graham: 23%
John Kerry: 15%
Dick Gephardt: 12%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Joe Lieberman: 6%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Kerry withdraws, doesn't endorse



"The race for the Presidency is very much over for me. I have no regrets about the campaign I've run, nor the people that I have worked with through out. I make no endorsement, because the field that is currently running has many strong candidates. Any one of them could beat President Bush and turn this nation around, in my view."

Lieberman makes his exit, also no endorsement



"I can not continue in this race, my friends. I don't have the money to compete nor do I have the support I need. I love the support I have but its time to close shop folks. I will not be making an endorsement until the race clears up on either side."

Post-New Hampshire National Poll:
Howard Dean: 33%
Bob Graham: 28%
Dick Gephardt: 25%
Dennis Kucinich: 5%
Al Sharpton: 3%
Undecided: 6%

Post-New Hampshire South Carolina Poll:
Dick Gephardt: 32%
Bob Graham: 29%
Howard Dean: 20%
Al Sharpton: 12%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%
Undecided: 5%

Arizona Poll:
Bob Graham: 35%
Dick Gephardt: 30%
Howard Dean: 18%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 13%

Delaware Poll:
Howard Dean: 38%
Bob Graham: 33%
Dick Gephardt: 15%
Al Sharpton: 3%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%
Undecided: 9%

New Mexico Poll:
Howard Dean: 28%
Bob Graham: 26%
Dick Gephardt: 25%
Dennis Kucinich: 10%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 10%

North Dakota Poll:
Howard Dean: 33%
Dick Gephardt: 30%
Bob Graham: 22%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Al Sharpton: <1%
Undecided: 7%

Oklahoma Poll:
Bob Graham: 40%
Dick Gephardt: 30%
Howard Dean: 12%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Dennis Kucinich: <1%
Undecided: 15%

Republican Primary



Red - George W. Bush
Green - Colin Powell

Bush upsets in New Hampshire!



"Looks like we've done it again! We beat back terror and we beat back opposition to the strategies that work!"

New Hampshire Results:
President George W. Bush: 52%
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: 48%

Colin Powell withdraws



"I am withdrawing from this race, but let me make a note: I will not be endorsing President Bush because I DO NOT endorse these policies. It is bad for the country in the long run and there is no way he's going to know how to manage Iraq from here on out."

"Why is Powell acting like such a baby? Is he trying to elect a Democrat here, I mean, c'mon" - Rush Limbaugh

With the Republican Primary wrapped up, will Bush be able to win against Dean? Graham? or even Gephardt?

[Maxwell]

Bob Graham wins South Carolina, Arizona, Oklahoma, and New Mexico!



South Carolina Results:
Bob Graham: 34%
Dick Gephardt: 30%
Howard Dean: 22%
Al Sharpton: 13%
Dennis Kucinich: 1%

Arizona Results:
Bob Graham: 40%
Dick Gephardt: 34%
Howard Dean: 21%
Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Oklahoma:
Bob Graham: 45%
Dick Gephardt: 41%
Howard Dean: 11%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Dennis Kucinich: <1%

New Mexico:
Bob Graham: 31%
Howard Dean: 31%
Dick Gephardt: 26%
Dennis Kucinich: 12%
Al Sharpton: <1%

Dean takes Delaware and North Dakota



Delaware Poll:
Howard Dean: 40%
Bob Graham: 39%
Dick Gephardt: 16%
Al Sharpton: 3%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%

North Dakota:
Howard Dean: 33%
Dick Gephardt: 31%
Bob Graham: 27%
Dennis Kucinich: 9%
Al Sharpton: <1%

Gephardt sweeps Missouri



Missouri Results:
Dick Gephardt: 55%
Bob Graham: 24%
Howard Dean: 15%
Al Sharpton: 4%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%

Delegate Race:
Dick Gephardt: 130
Bob Graham: 115
Howard Dean: 83
John Kerry: 5

"Something about these delegate races always weirds me out. Bob Graham came out with a whole show of delegates today and still trails Dick Gephardt, who only managed to take his home state and Iowa. I mean, that's saying something about the race right now, isn't it?" - Chris Matthews

"Dean is still in it to win it, very much, but right now he seems to be tappering off, as is Minority Leader Gephardt. There's a new sheriff in town, and his name seems to be Senator Bob Graham" - James Carville

National Poll:
Bob Graham: 35%
Howard Dean: 31%
Dick Gephardt: 24%
Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 4%

Michigan Poll:
Bob Graham: 38%
Howard Dean: 30%
Dick Gephardt: 22%
Dennis Kucinich: 5%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 4%

Washington Poll:
Howard Dean: 40%
Bob Graham: 29%
Dennis Kucinich: 13%
Dick Gephardt: 10%
Al Sharpton: 3%
Undecided: 5%

Maine Poll:
Howard Dean: 38%
Bob Graham: 37%
Dick Gephardt: 12%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 3%



"Our road to the nomination is a slow one, but Washington looks very pleasing to our campaign, as we are now ahead of Minority Leader Gephardt. Our message of peace over oppression will not be silenced!"



"I see the party of the Democrats is under chronic indecision. That's fine by me, because the Republicans are the deciders, and they decided me, and we are going to be able to make those tough decisions that the Democrats namby pampy on each day. Heh!"

Will Graham's Clintonesqe streak continue? Can Dean make a comeback? Is Gephardt done? Can Kucinich get ANY delegates? And first and foremost, can any of these three men beat W.?

[Maxwell]

BOB-MENTUM

Bob Graham takes Michigan and Maine in a big way, loses Washington by 2



"I've taken a stand as a leader in Washington for years in the Senate, but now the people are saying they want true leadership in the executive branch, and I'm the man who can do it!"



"Thank you Washington for keeping our hopes up, and we will continue this campaign until the convention, where we will show some of these people how to win a nomination!"



"We are starting our way to the nomination folks. We have beaten expectations again and again, and I think our slow but sure ways will get us to the nomination and to the white house in 2004!"

Michigan Results:
Bob Graham: 45%
Howard Dean: 29%
Dick Gephardt: 20%
Dennis Kucinich: 5%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Washington Poll:
Howard Dean: 36%
Bob Graham: 34%
Dennis Kucinich: 18%
Dick Gephardt: 9%
Al Sharpton: 3%

Maine Results:
Bob Graham: 44%
Howard Dean: 36%
Dick Gephardt: 10%
Dennis Kucinich: 9%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Delegate Race:
Bob Graham: 221
Howard Dean: 173
Dick Gephardt: 156
Dennis Kucinich: 14

"Kucinich keeps popping up out of no where, even when, actually especially when, nobody wants him, and it seems like, in spite of what we keep saying, he will be a force to be reckoned with in this primary." - Joe Scarborough

"Gephardts performances tonight were below par, and quite frankly, I don't think his campaign truly continues after this. Tennessee and Virginia are his last shot, and I don't think its likely because Graham has his southern support rather locked up at this point." - Chris Matthews

National Poll:
Bob Graham: 40%
Howard Dean: 31%
Dick Gephardt: 19%
Dennis Kucinich: 6%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 3%

Virginia:
Bob Graham: 48%
Howard Dean: 22%
Dick Gephardt: 18%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 7%

Tennessee:
Bob Graham: 46%
Dick Gephardt: 23%
Howard Dean: 22%
Al Sharpton: 3%
Dennis Kucinich: 1%
Undecided: 5%

D.C.:
Al Sharpton: 38%
Howard Dean: 35%
Dennis Kucinich: 17%
Bob Graham: 5%
Dick Gephardt: 2%
Undecided: 3%

Nevada:
Bob Graham: 37%
Howard Dean: 22%
Dick Gephardt: 18%
Dennis Kucinich: 15%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 7%

Democrats V. Bush:

Graham: 45%
Bush: 41%
Undecided: 14%

Dean: 47%
Bush: 46%
Undecided: 7%

Bush: 49%
Gephardt: 46%
Undecided: 5%

Bush: 53%
Sharpton: 43%
Undecided: 4%

Bush: 51%
Kucinich: 36%
Undecided: 13%

Gephardt interview gets a little bit hectic



"Minority Leader Gephardt, why don't you leave the race? You seem to be completely out of step here!"

"Well the fact is, I am not leaving this race until I feel that it is time to leave this race, and when that is I will let you know, so please, stop asking those questions."

[Maxwell]

Senator Graham continues to topple the competition, Dean takes D.C. in an upset

Virginia:
Bob Graham: 51%
Howard Dean: 27%
Dick Gephardt: 17%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Al Sharpton: 2%

Tennessee:
Bob Graham: 50%
Howard Dean: 26%
Dick Gephardt: 20%
Al Sharpton: 3%
Dennis Kucinich: 1%

D.C.:
Howard Dean: 39%
Al Sharpton: 35%
Dennis Kucinich: 20%
Bob Graham: 5%
Dick Gephardt: 1%

Nevada:
Bob Graham: 42%
Howard Dean: 24%
Dennis Kucinich: 18%
Dick Gephardt: 15%
Al Sharpton: 1%



"Wisconsin is treating us rather nicely, so while I thank my supporters in all of our previous states, our Wisconsin numbers have me thinking that Graham ain't so safe a pick. And we want change, not more of the same, as Graham's moderate record has shown us."

Delegate Race:
Bob Graham: 312
Howard Dean: 244
Dick Gephardt: 187
Dennis Kucinich: 22
Al Sharpton: 7

"Graham keeps winning, but notice something else: Howard Dean isn't giving in either. Dean keeps on running to his coat tails thanks to the way the Democratic primaries are set up, and he gains a lot of delegates because Gephardt seems to be falling. Graham is the favorite now, but I would warn him not to get too carried away, Dean rising from the dead in Wisconsin."

National Poll:
Bob Graham: 43%
Howard Dean: 30%
Dick Gephardt: 16%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 2%

Wisconsin:
Bob Graham: 38%
Howard Dean: 36%
Dennis Kucinich: 12%
Dick Gephardt: 10%
Al Sharpton: <1%
Undecided: 4%

Hawaii:
Howard Dean: 30%
Dennis Kucinich: 26%
Bob Graham: 21%
Dick Gephardt: 8%
Al Sharpton: <1%
Undecided: 15%

Utah:
Bob Graham: 32%
Dick Gephardt: 26%
Howard Dean: 24%
Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 12%

Georgia:
Bob Graham: 45%
Howard Dean: 20%
Dick Gephardt: 17%
Al Sharpton: 12%
Dennis Kucinich: <1%
Undecided: 6%

Gephardt braves on, says Super Tuesday his last stand



"I am aware my numbers aren't looking great, so I will take a stand by campaigning early in Super Tuesday states and see where that leads me, and If I am not gaining momentum from there I think leaving the race is very probable."

Al Sharpton announces campaign halt in Georgia



"Our campaign is going to occupy the state of Georgia because we believe the people of Georgia will start to see things our way!"

Kucinich Campaign: We Will Win Hawaii



"Hawaii will be the first state of many to be ready for the Kucinich message for America!"

[Maxwell]

Dean wins debate, crushes Graham on Death Penalty



"Senator Graham stands for a revolting practice that the state of Vermont never has used and I would not use in most cases, Graham, however, seems to think its use should be willy nilly, which is brutal tactics of an authoritarian government, much like the one President Bush has used."

Who Won the Debate?
Howard Dean: 40%
Dick Gephardt: 12%
Bob Graham: 10%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Undecided: 30%

Dean upsets in Wisconsin!



"YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"

Wisconsin:
Howard Dean: 40%
Bob Graham: 38%
Dennis Kucinich: 13%
Dick Gephardt: 9%
Al Sharpton: <1%

Delegate Race:
Bob Graham: 339
Howard Dean: 287
Dick Gephardt: 187
Dennis Kucinich: 22
Al Sharpton: 7

National Polls:
Bob Graham: 39%
Howard Dean: 36%
Dick Gephardt: 13%
Dennis Kucinich: 9%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 2%

Hawaii:
Howard Dean: 35%
Dennis Kucinich: 30%
Bob Graham: 19%
Dick Gephardt: 6%
Al Sharpton: <1%
Undecided: 10%

Utah:
Bob Graham: 32%
Howard Dean: 30%
Dick Gephardt: 25%
Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 8%

Gephardt throws resources into Utah!



"Utah will be standing point. if we win it or get a very close second, I will stay in the race. If not, I just don't see this campaign moving much further."

[Maxwell]

Dean campaign closing in fast on Senator Graham, wins in Hawaii and Utah!



"From tonight, I think its pretty gosh darn clear that Senator Graham clearly hasn't wrapped up this thing, and from my view I think we stand a very strong chance of winning this nomination!"

Hawaii:
Howard Dean: 42%
Dennis Kucinich: 36%
Bob Graham: 17%
Dick Gephardt: 5%

Utah:
Howard Dean: 40%
Bob Graham: 34%
Dick Gephardt: 20%
Dennis Kucinich: 5%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Delegate Race:
Bob Graham: 350
Howard Dean: 307
Dick Gephardt: 192
Dennis Kucinich: 29
Al Sharpton: 7

Gephardt leaves flailing campaign!



"I must bid adieu to this race, as my numbers have fallen to a point to where I can not win. I will not be making an endorsement, as both of these men are qualified beyond belief to be the President, and I will be making my decision after Super Tuesday."

National Polls Post-Gephardt:
Bob Graham: 44%
Howard Dean: 43%
Dennis Kucinich: 10%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 2%

California:
Howard Dean: 46%
Bob Graham: 37%
Dennis Kucinich: 12%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 3%

Connecticut:
Howard Dean: 50%
Bob Graham: 32%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 9%

Georgia:
Bob Graham: 49%
Howard Dean: 32%
Al Sharpton: 10%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Undecided: 6%

Maryland:
Bob Graham: 44%
Howard Dean: 44%
Al Sharpton: 5%
Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Undecided: 3%

Massachussets:
Howard Dean: 53%
Bob Graham: 29%
Dennis Kucinich: 11%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 5%

Minnesota:
Howard Dean: 38%
Bob Graham: 29%
Dennis Kucinich: 26%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 5%

New York:
Howard Dean: 44%
Bob Graham: 31%
Al Sharpton: 11%
Dennis Kucinich: 10%
Undecided: 4%

Ohio:
Bob Graham: 42%
Howard Dean: 40%
Dennis Kucinich: 14%
Al Sharpton: <1%
Undecided: 4%

Rhode Island:
Howard Dean: 54%
Bob Graham: 30%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Al Sharpton: 1%
Undecided: 7%

Vermont:
Howard Dean: 65%
Bob Graham: 18%
Dennis Kucinich: 11%
Al Sharpton: 2%
Undecided: 4%



"Howard Dean is playing no more Mister Nice Guy with Mister Nice Guy Bob Graham and it seems to be working, as Graham's support seems to be eroding at a decent rate. Graham leads nationally by a point, but most of the states that are up for grabs in Super Tuesday are Dean states, which would only help him nationally. Bob Graham needs to win all of the states that are in the gray in order to stay competitive today: He needs Maryland, he needs Ohio, Heck, even California and Minnesota would be nice. Bob Graham needs to figure this thing out before he gets booted by this newly alert Dean campaign."

Phone Calls with Bush and Rove:

Bush: Hehehe, It looks like Crazy Dean could be the nominee after all!
Rove: I was kind of shocked that the death penalty stuff would even be a factor, considering that most of the public is pro-death penalty, but I guess they want a real liberal as the nominee.
Bush: That's great! If Dean is the nominee, I can Dukakis the hell out of him, just like my father did, with Dukakis!
Rove: I think Dean will have the lessons of 88 in his bag by then, so we'll have to adjust...
Bush: Nonsense Rovie! You are too careful! Things will always work out for Cowboy Bushie, yeee haw!
Rove: You're an idiot
Bush: And you're my brain!
Rove: I am hanging up

Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop

Is Bob Graham going to make a comeback? Can Dean win the nomination in spite of a Graham surge? and most importantly, can they defeat the incumbent President? Find out next on...



"EXCUSE ME!!"

Oh, and can Kucinich win Minnesota? (hint: NO) Find out next time...

[Maxwell]

I thought my timelines needed more humor

[Maxwell]

Dean manages Super Tuesdsay sweep, beats Graham in every state but Georgia



"I just want to make it clear, I think we've successfully turned this thing around!"

California:
Howard Dean: 48%
Bob Graham: 37%
Dennis Kucinich: 13%
Al Sharpton: 2%

Connecticut:
Howard Dean: 54%
Bob Graham: 34%
Dennis Kucinich: 10%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Georgia:
Bob Graham: 51%
Howard Dean: 34%
Al Sharpton: 11%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%

Maryland:
Howard Dean: 46%
Bob Graham: 45%
Al Sharpton: 5%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%

Massachusetts:
Howard Dean: 57%
Bob Graham: 29%
Dennis Kucinich: 12%
Al Sharpton: 2%

Minnesota:
Howard Dean: 39%
Dennis Kucinich: 33%
Bob Graham: 26%
Al Sharpton: 2%

New York:
Howard Dean: 46%
Bob Graham: 31%
Al Sharpton: 13%
Dennis Kucinich: 10%

Ohio:
Howard Dean: 43%
Bob Graham: 42%
Dennis Kucinich: 15%
Al Sharpton: <1%

Rhode Island:
Howard Dean: 58%
Bob Graham: 32%
Dennis Kucinich: 9%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Vermont:
Howard Dean: 69%
Bob Graham: 16%
Dennis Kucinich: 14%
Al Sharpton: 1%

Delegate Race:
Howard Dean: 984
Bob Graham: 779
Dennis Kucinich: 74
Al Sharpton: 7
Un-allocated: 192



"We didn't really have a good night, but who has a good night every night? I am ready for the road ahead and I will prove to the Democratic voters again that I am the right man for the job because I am the only one that can beat Bush. Plus, these polls are so easy to misrepresent, while Dean leads me nationally, the next four states are in the South, my ball game. Dean shouldn't get so excited."

National Polls:
Howard Dean: 49%
Bob Graham: 40%
Dennis Kucinich: 9%
Undecided: 2%

Florida:
Bob Graham: 68%
Howard Dean: 28%
Dennis Kucinich: 3%
Undecided: 1%

Louisiana:
Bob Graham: 50%
Howard Dean: 38%
Dennis Kucinich: 5%
Undecided: 7%

Mississippi:
Bob Graham: 48%
Howard Dean: 41%
Dennis Kucinich: 4%
Undecided: 7%

Texas:
Bob Graham: 50%
Howard Dean: 45%
Dennis Kucinich: 2%
Undecided: 3%

Illinois:
Howard Dean: 51%
Bob Graham: 39%
Dennis Kucinich: 8%
Undecided: 2%

Alaska:
Dennis Kucinich: 40%
Howard Dean: 32%
Bob Graham: 22%
Undecided: 6%



"These Democrats just don't know what to do. Do they want a moderate liberal, do they want a liberal, or do they want a super liberal? I mean, just all kinds of tax and spend liberal chameleons who won't show their true colors to the American people and this primary is exactly why Americans are favoring me over them."

Dean has gained the mantle as the front-runner again, but will it last? Find out next time...