The title of this diary is also the headline on Google news for this NYT story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/24dean.html?ex=1078203600&en=e78a9c2d2e0457b5&ei=
5062&
Meanwhile, Jim Dean (Howard's brother) told a Connecticut for Dean group this week that the Edwards campaign keeps leaking stories of Dean and Edwards meeting because Edwards really wants that press, not because Dean is really that interested in meeting with Edwards. (I read this in an email from a Connecticut for Dean member who heard Jim Dean say this.)
What I found a bit intriguing is that the Edwards campaign contacted Geto (the head of Dean's NY campaign) right after Dean stepped down. Geto then sent a letter to all NY Dean supporters (something he apparently rarely or never did the during the active Dean campaign) saying that working to get Dean delegates was essentially hopeless and gave wrong information to support this (that you need 15% statewide as well as 15% in a particular district).
The article quotes Geto insulting Burlington's grassroots strategy while tauting his own strategy in NY. This seems typical of Dean staffers who jump ship. They insult Dean or the campaign on the way out. (Is that just typical politics, and my sense of ethics is getting in the way?)
But, the article says that Geto never actually joined the Edwards campaign. It does say that two other lead Dean NY staffers did officially join the Edwards campaign. The Dean NY Deputy Director Eric Schmeltzer started a Web site called DeaniacsforEdwards (is he "Radical Middle" on Kos?). And, John Arceci, the head of research for Dean's NY campaign, wrote, "I'm a part of this effort because I believe that the debate is not yet over, and that in supporting Senator Edwards on March 2 we will actually be furthering the movement for change that Governor Dean began," in a note he posted on the NY for Dean website.
It seems like when the NY leadership of the Dean campaign make these kind of statements, it strongly dooms any Dean delegate campaign in the state.
I remember that when the Geto letter was first sent out, a bunch of NYers on Kos wrote diaries puzzled by it. With this additional information, it's a little hard to believe its intent was anything but an effort to permit Dean supporters to join the Edwards campaign.
At this point, I realize Dean isn't actively campaigning and none of this matters much from that point of view.
But, it may shed some light on Edwards' behind-the-scenes political actions. I found the Edwards-Kucinich arrangement in Iowa fascinating as well.
It could very well be that Edwards simply contacted the NY, Ohio, and Georgia Dean campaign chairs to ask if they were interested in switching over, and any subsequent actions those staffers took is their own judgment call. I have no reason to think Edwards has done anything unethical, but I do find all the behind-the-scenes actions interesting.