Amid a large crowd wielding an array of campaign buttons and signs, former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer headlined the Hoos for Howard Dean Official Kickoff Rally last night in Clark Hall.
Beyer, who served as lieutenant governor from 1990-1998, is the national treasurer for Vermont Governor Howard Dean's democratic presidential nomination candidacy and leads the candidate's campaigning in Virginia.
Beyer's opening remarks focused on Dean's straightforwardness on issues.
"He is to my mind the most fearless political leader I've ever seen," Beyer said. "Howard Dean, from the beginning of his career -- has been unable to take anything other than a very clear position" on an issue.
Beyer stressed Dean's opposition to the Iraq conflict and call for honesty in relation to the war. He also emphasized Dean's pro-gay marriage and universal healthcare initiatives.
Beyer stated that one of the campaign's goals was to bring about greater involvement in politics -- from ordinary citizens at the polls and in campaign membership. He set a goal of two million campaign members by next July.
"We have to engage people in politics that have never been engaged before," said Beyer.
Beyer also added that the campaign's primary election strategy focused on the top three states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Virginia. While gaining an early lead in the primaries is a focus for all candidates, Beyer said the campaign would focus on Virginia's diverse population.
Virginia's primary takes place Feb. 10.
Hoos for Howard Dean Chair David Wasserman said he supports Dean's presidential candidacy because of his unique appeal to the college-age demographic.
"Dean brings together a lot of our generation in ways no other can," said Wasserman. "He speaks to people our age."
Wasserman also said that he favors the way Dean has taken on issues one at a time as governor, rather than a broad overall ideological standpoint. Wasserman cited Dean's signing of Vermont's same-sex civil union law and support of leaving gun control laws to individual states as examples.
Recent polls show Dean ahead of the eight other candidates for the Democratic nomination.
"He is the clear front-runner, he's well ahead --- the candidate to beat," Politics Prof. Larry Sabato said. "However this does not guarantee the nomination."
Recently Dean has come under political fire for a comment made in the Des Moines Register stating: "I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross section of Democrats."
Dean later apologized for the remark.
Politics Prof. James Caesar said that Dean's tactic may alienate Southern voters.
"The Southern candidates for president are using this to show that Dean doesn't understand what the South is all about," said Caesar. "He comes off to many as arrogant."
Both Sabato and Caesar agree that it is much too early to predict the outcome of the nomination process, citing uncertainties with the economy, social issues and the war in Iraq.
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