U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ) Endorses Howard Dean

TUCSON, AZ--U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) announced today that he will endorse Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D. Speaking at a ceremony here in Presidio Park, Grijalva hailed Dean as the one candidate who can beat President Bush in 2004.

"I am pleased to announce my support for Governor Dean," said Rep. Grijalva. "I believe that Governor Dean is the only one that can unseat President Bush and take this country into a new era. He cares for the people and is genuine in his beliefs. His leadership will provide Arizona and the rest of our Nation with a sense of values that will benefit all Americans."

In announcing his endorsement, Grijalva specifically cited Dean's stance as an advocate for health care and immigration reform, his support for education and civil rights, as well as his desire to reincorporate American values into its foreign policy.

More: http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/001084.html

I'm glad that Dean has his support as it is important as well that we reach out into the Latino community.

Grijalva is IMHO the most progressive member of the 2002 freshman class in the House. Put up another superdelegate for Dean!

ON EDIT (4:46 PM EDT): Also, the Arizona primary is early (2/3), and there are only 2 Democratic representatives from AZ. Dean has Grijalva's endorsement, and Gephardt has Pastor's endorsement. I guess Liebermush isn't going to get the AZ boost he wanted...

SECOND EDIT: The Delegate Count now stands as follows:

Dean	Edwards	Gephardt	Graham	Kerry	Kucinich	Lieberman	Moseley Braun	Sharpton
5	9	34	        8	9	3	        15	        2               2

Does anybody know whether Jeffords is a superdelegate?

http://www.freewebs.com/goobergunch/pdem.html

I can't imagine he would be a superdelegate

He's not counted in my delegate count. However, I'd be curious to see an official comment and the VT Dems don't have their Delegate Selection plan on their website. :shrug:

http://www.vtdemocrats.org/

and the other Kucinich ones? One that I know of is Rep. Lynn Woosely (D-CA)

Kucinich (3): Kucinich, Watson, Woolsey
Moseley Braun (2): Davis (IL), Rush
Sharpton (2): Serrano, Towns

and he is very progressive. This will also do well for Dean in Southwest Maricopa County and possibly Phoenix and the East Valley. I am so glad Grijalva is endorsing him especially someone like me looking for changes.

"I believe that Governor Dean is the only one that can unseat President Bush and take this country into a new era. He cares for the people and is genuine in his beliefs. His leadership will provide Arizona and the rest of our Nation with a sense of values that will benefit all Americans."

I completely agree and if I lived in Southwest Arizona I would definately vote for him but unfortenately I live in East Maricopa County and J.D. Hayworth is my congressman.

I feel bad for you...Hayworth makes my Repuke congressman (Gerlach) look like a Democrat.

but I don't know who Gerlach is, but I get tired of vile that comes out of his mouth "Saddam was a weapon of mass destruction!!!" in response to "where are the weapons of mass destruction!!!" Said by Kucinich. This was during a Congressional House Meeting.

at least he voted against ANWR drilling.

Must be just on the opposite side of the line from me, I have Jeff Flake.

Oh Joy!

He's a Republican, but he seems quite moderate to me. I'd peg him as a centrist, if anything. You know any more about him, Goobergunch? Has he come up in your research at all? He represents NY-25.

who represents Tucson?

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McCain has broad support even in Democratic circles, and has thrown his weight behind Kerry.

McCain picked up 41% of the democrat vote in the 1998 Senate election which is high in any senate election for a republican. He also picked up 69% of the independent vote, but McCain hasn't yet endorsed Kerry http://www.vote-smart.org/endorsements.php?can_id=S0421103 But I think Kerry will do well because I seen a few times where he was standing up against Bush who slashed Veterans benefits. He will do well in a state with alot of retired Vets.

Hopefully this endorsment will help convince Dean that he will owe alot to the base. I see nither Dean nor Kerry doing anything but the politicaly expidient. But Dean at least is willing to stick it to the right wing on tough issues like Iraq (though its just rhetoric)then (hopefully)make tough fiscaly prudent stances on issues like corperate whorefare (wellfare to fat cats)to get the budget in line. Problem is that Dean doesnt seem to want to cut the defense budget and only Gephardt (of the "top tier") has ever wispered about attacking corperate welfare.I think Dean attracted me at first due to the fact that he was the first Democrat is anges to come out for even a moderate step toward expanded health care coverage for the uninsured (and boy is it a weak step but it gave the American people abreath of hope and drove other Democrats to not consider sidestepping the issue PLUS gave the DLC a headache and brought out their true colors). Somebody actualy questioning (and aside from his campaign rhetoric thats all he really did) our Iraq policy was so outside the box that Dean couldnt help but look good (due to the pathetic state of our party) in my eyes. Sounding an alarm on the budget mess with promises to reign in the defecit is good politics and good policy especially since defense and corperate welfare and loopholes are the lions share of the budget.

Im getting less and less enthused about any canidate but Kucinich . Its a disgrace that a pure moderate like Dean is able to be portrayed as a flamming lefty. Anyway I have shifted alot in my views recently. I dont even care about the general (its irrevelant at the present time , the rightward mess the Democratic party is in is the immediate concern) and frankly the Democratic Primary is my Super Bowl .

...or you'll be disappointed. Dean is a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. The DLC has, for some reason, chosen to declare him a fringe liberal, but that simply isn't the case. He's a pragmatist, with a desire for results rather than posturing.

I think this ADDS to his electability rather than detracting from it. I'd MUCH rather see somebody who can get universal healthcare (in any form) first and THEN move to single-payer than a candidate who insists on single-payer from the beginning (which has NEVER made it through Congress).

He's NOT an ultra-liberal, but he DOES stand for the beliefs that I think we all feel are important.

Infact all I seemed to be doing was spending my time on right wing sites shooting down the myth that dean is a liberal. First nobody believed me. Now they all begun to relize it but wont come out and say it instead they are now making outragious claims that Dean has been calling himself a "moderate" all along and the "liberal media" is trying to cover up what a left wing radical he is (lol right wing tactics). I dont want to say more but one right wing journalist (who has observed my debates with right wingers) thinks he has a bombshell to drop about Dean that would make him the most left wing canidate ever (granted its just one issue...hint medical) and even I amdit it would bury Deans chances (though I doubt its true). I dont want to say anything because Im paranoid posters from right wing sites google "key words" I use and want to track down who I am on other boards .

Sort of similar to a Kerry endorser in California, Antonio Villaragosa, who I heard is also a very liberal Latino.

So much for Arizona, Joe!