Dean minus the "scream"

[kashifsakhan]

What happens to Howard Dean if he doesnt do his little scream speech? Does he get nominated, if so, does he win the 2004 election?

[Michael Z]

He still doesn't get nominated, since Kerry and Edwards had momentum on their side after the IA caucus. All the Dean scream really did was provide the media and some political commentators with a jolly knees-up, but it mattered little in terms of actual electoral figures. Though chances are that he would have pulled off a more respectable showing. But no, it was defeat in IA that took the wind out of his sails, and not the Scream itself. He had been seen as a shoo-in for ages, and all of a sudden he was behind Kerry and Edwards and losing ground to Clark as well.

[Gustaf]

It'd be interesting. I think that without the scream Dean might actually win NH. In that case he would have remained a serious competitor in the next 7 states. I still think Kerry would have pulled through though. 

[Tetro Kornbluth]

At that stage  Kerry would have still won the nomination. Dean Downfall was due to his hype and him believing in it.

Ironically had he not been installed as the media favourite there would have been no scream and he would have had a chance. But in reality he was far too associated with the netroots\left-bloggers at that point. Many just wanted him to fail.

I would have preferred him to Kerry though.