Signifigance to the Dean endorsement....?

[KevinTheOmnivore]

This is a part of something larger that I intend to write on, but I thought I'd start the topic here.

Howard Dean has already stated that he would/will endorse John Kerry for president, should Kerry be the nominee. Now, it's my opinion that this approval will be an important one for John Kerry, and perhaps a powerful one in the future, depending on a lot of factors.

I base this claim on Pat Robertson and the Christian Coalition. I truly believe that Robertsaon has been one of the most powerful, NON-elected men in politics over the past decade or so. When he ran for president, he ran a primarily southern christian based campaign. It was conservative, populistic, and created a strong network of supporters who could seriously effect policy through their letters, phone calls, and cash stuffed envelopes. They were organized, righteous, pissed off, and determined. The strength of the Christian Coalition came from this bid for the presidency, and in my opinion, made Robertson a very powerful man. He had a lot of pull in the Republican Party up until very recently, and even had serious input in Newt Gingrich's contract with America.

Conservatives, despite their reputation for big business connections, have always been very good at GOTV and fundraising, be it big donors, or merely many, many small donors. The Democratic Party hasn't been horrible at this, but has often relied on law firms, large individual wealthy donors, interest groups, unions, etc. for their cash flow in campaigns, particularly on the national level.

Howard Dean changed this. Despite the implosion of his campaign, he has used the internet, combined with old school grassroots organizing, to create a network of pissed off Lefties and Liberals, who want George Bush OUT. Now, I'm not trying to moralize this. In this case, I don't care who's right or wrong. I'm simply making an observation for its historical and political merits.

If Kerry becomes president, and Howard Dean stays committed to the "movement" of party activists and rabblerousers, will the "Dean coalition" (if such a thing even exists) have substantive effect on policy, much like the religious Right has had....? Furthermore, if Bush is re-elected, could the "Dean movement" have long-term substantive change on a Democratic Party that has otherwise been placed in the center, thanks in part to Bill Clinton....?