Toast-o-Meter (11/28 Edition)
The Toast-o-meter: A Weekly News Round-Up and Handicapping of the Race for the Democratic Nomination.
Welcome to the post-Thanksgiving Day edition of the Toast-O-Meter. Call it the Turkey on Toast EditionTM. Even with an abbreviated week, it was a fairly eventful one, as the fortunes of the frontrunner continue to rise, while his competitors continue to feel the heat.
While it is true that Dean continues his dominance of the field, it was not the best of weeks for the Democrats:
The 3Q GDP figures were revised upward a whole point to 8.2, plus the Fed said nice things about the economy. Indeed, there was good economic news all the way ’round.
They managed to give the RNC a ton of free publicity.
And, of course, there was “The Visit“.
But Bush did get in trouble over the pronunciation of “Nevada”.
Now, on to this week’s rankings:
The scale:
Wonder Bread (The nomination is in reach)
Just Plain Ol’ White Bread (Still in the race; has a shot)
Toast (Pretty much done—a little scraping might make you look like bread, but you’re done)
Burnt Toast (Really, really done)
Burnt all the Way Through (Why are you still in the race?)
Crumbs in the Bottom of the Toaster (Why did you ever get in the race in the first place?)
Potential Movements each Week:
Dough is on the Rise
Heat’s Off This Week
The heat is on.
Got Scraped a Bit
Getting Darker
Howard Dean: Wonder Bread With Yummy Vermont Syrup on top (Dough on the Rise)
Dean continues to race ahead, with none of the Other Eight seemingly able to catch up. As pollster Frank Luntz noted on Hardball this week, his status is so well established that when the Other Eight attack him, they are seen in a negative light, rather than the attacks bringing Dean back to earth.
Time asks Can Anyone Catch Dean? (Answer: not bloody likely)
He is ahead of Gephardt in at least one poll in Iowa.
He is beating Kerry in one poll in Mass. and in a statstical tie in another. To which I say: wowie.
The NYT reported that Dean received a medical deferment from the Viet Nam draft, and then went skiing. However, as I (and others in the Blogosphere noted), this is unlikely to damage him in any way, especially not in terms of the nomination.
Dick Gephardt: Plain Ol’ White Bread that is starting to toast (The Heat is on.)
The heat is on: Dean leads him 32-22 in at least one poll in Iowa. As I said earlier in the week, if Gephardt loses Iowa, he’s burnt crumbs.
John Kerry: Burnt French Toast (Getting darker)
If this was the Roast-O-Meter, I’d say put a fork in him.
He is losing to Dean in one poll and in a statistical tie in another in his home state of Massachussets.
He is trying to obtain campaign funds by borrowing against his house.
All the articles about Kerry seem to use words like “comeback,” “jump-start, or “relaunch“. That ain’t good.
And it is getting bad when the hometown paper is writing stories like this.
After grandstanding on the Medicare debate by appearing at the Iowa debate via satellite, Mr. Kerry chose not to hang around and bother going on the record by voting on the bill. Indeed, he and Mr. Lieberman were the only Democrats not to register a vote.
Wesley Clark: Toast (Getting darker)
Clark’s big move this week? Hiring the head of Bob Graham’s failed campaign.
Joe Lieberman: Burnt Toast (Getting Darker)
Lieberman wasn’t allowed to participate in the Iowa debates this week, even via satellite, as was the case for Kerry and Edwards. He stated on Hardball that DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe told him personally over the phone that he would not be allowed to take part in the event.
See Kerry’s entry above to see what Mr. Lieberman failed to vote on this past week.
John Edwards: Burnt all the Way Through (Getting Darker—soon to be crumbs)
Mr. Edwards did at least bother to vote “no” on the Medicare reform bill.
For a contribution of $250, you can get an autographed copy of Edwards’ autobiography.
Dennis Kucinich: Crumbs at the bottom of the Toaster (banana bread)
No joke: Self-made Kucinich still going his own way
Still no new Mrs. Kucinich (or a date, as far as I know). (But there is a list of at least 80 now).
But, Kucinich Supporters Can ‘Adopt an Intern’. Good to know.
His biggest moment of the week was when Dean said nice things about him (for voting against the Iraq resolution) during the Iowa debate.
Al Sharpton: Crumbs at the Bottom of the Toaster (cranberry nut bread)
He may be crumbly, but one poll does put him in 2nd in SC. That’s nice and all, but he still ain’t even badly burned toast.
Carol Moseley Braun: Crumbs at the Bottom of the Toaster
She isn’t even the first “Braun” to come up in a Google News search. ‘Nuf said. (She is at Yahoo News, however).
elpt
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“Burnt French Toast” - that says it all
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