Dean supporters unite

Jenny Marder

In November 2002, Roz Freeman heard Howard Dean’s voice coming from a

television in a neighboring room and was strangely drawn to it.

“It was like, finally, someone was talking to me,” the Huntington

Beach resident said. “Here was someone who was a Democrat who was

talking at last.”

Dean’s antiwar stance, his proposed health care and education

policies and his opposition to the Patriot Act attracted her to the

former Vermont governor’s presidential campaign and she’s been an

avid supporter ever since.

Freeman was one of 30 Dean supporters who gathered at a Newport

Beach home Monday night to raise money for his presidential campaign,

as part of the Presidents Day Party organized nationally by the group

Women for Dean.

Winless in 16 democratic contests, trailing in the Wisconsin polls

and fielding pressure from his own advisors to quit, some say that

the race is over for Dean. Still, the former Vermont governor’s

Orange County supporters refuse to give up.

Susan Kopicki’s home was one of more than 400 nationwide that

hosted house parties Monday night to reenergize Dean’s fight for the

democratic nomination.

Organizers raised $510, exceeding their $440 goal.

“It seemed sort of silly,” Kopicki said. “That’s not a lot of

money compared to what some candidates raised, but a thing like this

is not just about the money. People who come feel such a pride in

participation.”

At the height of the party was a conference call with Dean

himself, who vowed to stay in the race, despite a grim track record

in the primary contest so far.

“We’re not dropping out,” Dean said. “We do want to continue to be

a major force of the Democratic Party. We want to continue pulling

the diverse group of people we have.”

The diverse group of people at the small Newport Beach home was a

testament the diversity of Dean’s following.

Kaushik Sunderragan, an Indian national, came to pledge his

support for Dean even though he cannot vote.

“I find Dean inspiring and I think it’s important for the whole

world that Dean win,” Sunderragan said.

Polls are pointing to another win for Sen. John Kerry in the

Wisconsin primary today. Kerry has already won 14 of the 16 primaries

and caucuses.

But Dean supporters won’t be deterred. Despite the turn that the

democratic race has taken so far, Brian Hart, 24, an advisor for the

Orange County for Dean organization at UC Irvine, said Dean’s support

base at the university has only grown since the Iowa caucus. In fact,

John Kerry and John Edwards, who are topping the polls among

Democrats, don’t even have an official support organization at the

university.

Dean can still win, said Christy Clark, 22, another member of the

college group.

“We’re all still here because we still believe in Dean,” Clark

said. “I believe it’s important to vote for what you believe in and

not what you fear.”

* JENNY MARDER is a reporter for the Times Community News. She may

be reached at jenny.marder@latimes.com.