Dukakis: Obama Likely To Win, But Needs To Improve Campaign

The Massachusetts Democratic primary, along with nearly two dozen other primaries and caucuses, was held on Feb. 5. Hillary Clinton won it by 15 points, one of her best showings anywhere this year, and Michael Dukakis voted in it--but he won't say for whom. "I voted for a candidate, yeah," is about all Mr. Dukakis, the state's former governor and a lifelong resident of Brookline, will say.

Mr. Dukakis has maintained an adamantly neutral public stance throughout the campaign, hoping instead to sell both candidates and their campaigns on the need for assembling a massive grassroots organizing effort--a captain and six block leaders in all 200,000 precincts in the country--for the fall. But he also said that Barack Obama will probably be the nominee and the race decided by early June, and possibly much sooner, with primaries in Indiana and North Carolina on tap next week.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[cmaff05]

Dukakis is a good liberal. It's a shame to see a supposedly liberal site like Huffington Post rip this honorable man to shreds. He may not have won the election in 1988, but that is because he didn't play the game as dirty as Papa Bush and Lee Atwater.

[meanguy]

obama's the new dukakis

[nestici]

Ferraro / Dukakis 2008 !

[katefranklin]

Is the GOP really going to succeed in painting Barack Obama as a white (!) effete liberal elitist? Come on. In which house of mirrors can this charge gain significant traction? (Especially coming from the likes of a former First Lady who just cashed out the past eight years with a $109 million tax return, and the spouse of a $100 million beer heiress.)

[xcrunner77]

What would Dukakis know about winning an election?

[abouttime]

You learn alot about winning from losing.

[harriscrl3]

You also learn from someone else losing before you decide to run like Obama did thats why he has put together so far a poltical machine thats raking in big bucks something Dukakis never did. I wish they would give the guy some credit that he knows what he is doing. He is 46 but he is wise beyond his years.

Carol

[Indepatriot]

Duke's defacto endorsment is much worse than the Wright flap for Obama! Please tankboy, put a sock in it!

[VSamuels]

You mean the same guy who must have repeated the word "en-noble" 20 times in his primary speech, he is as out-of-touch then as he is then. The republicans have been trying to tie Obama to Gore, Kerry and now Dukakis and so goes the media in chasing these comparsions---I would expect more spurious and false charges made up by the right to continue to work its way into the so-called liberal media, which up to this point seems rather kind to McCain.

McCain the self-admitted adulter was allowed to give 1 press conference and suddenly Vicki Iseman disappeared both literally and figuratively, all thanks to the generous liberal press. Apparently, someone forgot to give them their own secretive script on this Wright fellow, as they are betraying their liberalism, which is key component of Wright's message.

[Beachrunner]

Maybe he can give Obama some pointers; like, riding around in a tank wearing a helmet and a goofy grin.

[TrueBlueMajority]

um, Mike? What exactly qualifies you to give Obama advice about how to win an election?

[jacobfloyd]

Obama Supporters, Hillary Supporters -- Listen Up!

It's time for US to start the healing process. The MSM won't do it for us. We need to call a truce amongst ourselves, rather than the candidates. I know who I'm voting for. You know who you're voting for. Nowhere is it stated that we have to tear each other down in this process.

As DEMOCRATS, we all have a common purpose to remove the Republicans from power. We know our future depends on it. We should stop holding up Obama and Clinton signs, and start holding up DEMOCRAT signs. We must spread this message.

Divided, we have no power against the Republicans.

[utd]

Uh no. There will be plenty of time to sit around hug and apologize to one another once HRC willingly leaves the race. I would be much more receptive to this idea if Hillary hadn't used the idea of reconciliation in the past as a f-ing way to attack. So soon we forget the "Oh he can be my VP" thing while he was still in the lead. She didn't want him as VP not that it was hers to offer anyway, she was just triangulating to get voters to think there was nothing different about the two of them so she could gain some ground.

I have nothing against Hillary supporters. I think our country is long over due for a woman as president. I just do not trust Hillary Clinton to lead our country any more than I have trusted George Bush.

When she is ready to exit the race, we can all sit around laugh, hug, cry, whatever, until then I don't think our or her supporters should give an inch.

[valleygent]

Jacob that is a wonderful joyous idea...too bad that one of the Democratic candidates has an ego the size of the state she represents so poorly. She will have to be forced down, there will be no peaceful way to stop her...she feeds off fame and the spotlight, when has she done anything useful for anyone but herself?

[jcause28]

I really hate to admit it, but you are right. Although I fancy myself more independent than Democrat, and I really do loathe the Clintons, it is too important of an election to hand it to McCain. Sigh. How about this, we may not have to like the Democratic nominee, whoever he or she maybe, but lets at least, grudgingly perhaps, support the best option against 100 years McCain.

[Cyndee1113]

No, I would not vote for Hillary if her depended on it.

[Researchguy66]

her doesn't depend on it, no worries.

[mjc]

If Obama is so likely to win, then let him get going on McCain. Hillary is still fighting to get the nomination without the pluses that Obama has. Obama is the one to wage the Democratic fight IF INDEED he is the ONE!

[naschkatze]

Obama is already going after McCain. He attacked McCain on his gas tax relief proposal which Hillary, great leader that she is (*snark*), also supports. Obama is not attacking her on McCain's proposal, though. He is just going after McCain, and you can take it from there: she doesn't matter and he is getting at her at her anyway by attacking McCain.

[FrankBlackFrancis]

I thought Dukakis was dead. Who cares what he thinks? About anything?

[johnfoirdfw]

Really Bubba, would not want to listen to any ot those "smart people".

[FlowerGirl]

If therev were a non-Neocon controlled media that would reach most voters, Michael, thasat would be easy. But tghis is the real world. Obama doesn't haave a tank to run over those Hillary supporting Murdochs and Scaifes. He can only hope that there are enough intelligent Americaans who can see through their game!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil2]

The only way that Obama needs to improve his campaign is by being on the offense, instead of constantly on the defense. Dukakis can't offer anything relevant to Obama. Obama is far superior to Dukakis as a candidate.

[BlueLogic]

By next week we'll see Obama in an oversized Sherman tank wearing a helmet two sizes too big for his head.

Thanks, Duke.

[Taaj]

Most of the advisers and talking heads brains (democratic and republican) can't measure up to Obama intellect. The desperation and effort that is going into stopping Obama from being the Democratic nominee is almost ballistic. Now for the Clinton surrogates to even recruit Rev. Wright, it is clear that Obama is in opposition to ALL divisive towards us.

Change is scary, especially when the forces who benefit from the status quo realize it could be right around the corner. But guess what win or lose, the Obamas will be fine. The change they seek, is the change every American who want their freedom back should seek. We can do it as individuals or together. Obama does not want the Presidency if we are not committed to CHANGE what have happened to our country, and just want another politican sitting in the White House screwing us.

[jsar70]

McGovern, now Dukakis? Why are all these losers dispensing advice. Keep your loser stink away from our candidate...........CAPISCE?!!!

[MAliberal]

Please, show some respect. The Governor is talking about setting up a grass roots campaign that starts early in each precinct, town, etc. It worked fabulously well here in Mass. to elect Gov. Patrick. The internet is a hugh part of the strategy, it gives each co-ordinator the ability to manage his/her own campaign. But it takes time and August will be too late.
I, too, was dissapointed at the lack of organization here in Mass. for Sen. Obama's campaign. Most of the energy was sent up to NH. I believe he could have been more competitive here.
My fear is that the longer this nomination process drags out the less time we have to entrench and organize the grass roots/bottom up campaign we need to win the white house.
Obama '08

[Grunty1]

Why do all these people think they need to give Obama advice? His campaign has shown itself perfectly capable of dealing with issues that come up.

[nellie]

It is so difficult with a media that specializes in making serious people look silly and silly people look serious.

[gevan]

Hoo boy! Campaign advice from Mike Dukakis! What more do any of us need?

[harriscrl3]

Wow all these people with advice for Obama. I guess the fact that they lost and are giving people advice on how to win means nothing.

Carol

[era996]

Nope, they just see another member in their Loser Club
Wake up people, vote Hillary

[tess08]

hillary's in the loser's club already dufus