Dean to make surprise visit to N.H.
Bradley endorsement expected
By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 1/5/2004
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa -- Howard Dean, whose presidential campaign has already won the backing of former vice president Al Gore, is planning a surprise visit to New Hampshire Tuesday in expectation of receiving the endorsement of the other leading Democratic contender from the 2000 race, former US senator Bill Bradley.
Democrats in New Hampshire and other parts of New England have been invited to a previously unscheduled appearance by Dean in Manchester for what is being billed as "a very special breakfast'' at which "a surprise endorsement is in store.'' Dean had been scheduled to attend a pancake breakfast in Muscatine, Iowa, about the same time, before participating in a candidate forum in Des Moines in the early afternoon.
A senior aide traveling early this morning with Dean in northern Iowa authenticated the invitation but refused to say that Bradley was planning to endorse Dean, explaining, "Nothing is confirmed at this point.'' The aide acknowledged that scrapping the early-morning event in Iowa, whose kickoff caucuses are two weeks from tonight, Monday would be unusual, particularly on the day of a debate, but the aide explained, "It wouldn't be the only wacky thing we've done in this campaign.'' Dean is expected to fly back to Des Moines to participate in the candidate forum.
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The endorsement would also provide a last-minute tweak to Dean's main rival in New Hampshire, Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts. His New Hampshire campaign is led by former governor Jeanne Shaheen and her husband, William, and aided by former Gore aide Michael J. Whouley of Boston's Dewey Square Group. All three of them were credited with Bradley's last-minute defeat in New Hampshire.
Asked about Kerry by sfpolitics.com, Bradley said only: "Well, let's go on.''
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/01/05/dean_to_make_surprise_visit_to_iow
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This is very exciting news indeed! It's very interesting that Bradley, who ran against Gore in 2000, is endorsing Dean. It suggests that the Democrats, of the past and present political spectrum, are falling in lockstep behind Dean.