MILWAUKEE, Wis — Strategically maneuvering to win Wisconsin’s

primary Feb. 17, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean made a

campaign stop in Milwaukee Sunday to regain his political footing

after losing the first two contests in the democratic primary.

The former Vermont Governor defended his campaign record after

failures to capture a win in either Iowa or New Hampshire, stating

that the race is far from over and his candidacy will still be in

full swing by the time the Wisconsin primary rolls around.

“To suggest that anyone ought to drop out of the race after 10

percent of the delegates [have been chosen] is ridiculous,” Dean

said. “I think the people of Wisconsin ought to have a say in who

is the next President of the United States.”

Dean hopes to be, “the last standing alternative to John Kerry

after the Wisconsin primary on February 17,” according to a release

by his new campaign chief executive officer, Roy Neel.

Neel said Wisconsin could be the key contest in which Dean might

retake the lead for the nomination against now heavy-favorite Sen.

John Kerry (Mass. ? D) and gain momentum into the Super Tuesday

primaries.

“Why Wisconsin? First, it is a stand-alone primary where we

believe we can run very strong. Second, it kicks off a two-week

campaign for over 1,100 delegates on March 2, and the shift of the

campaign that month to nearly every big state,” Neel said in the

statement.

Although all other major candidates headed south for the next

round of primaries, Dean decided to focus on winning later races he

stands a better chance of winning. Dean strategists hope to save

resources while other contenders get knocked out during the coming

week. Dean will not campaign in any of the February 3 races,

focusing instead on the three primaries February 7 and 8 before

gearing up for the Wisconsin primary.

Dean was the hour-long guest on “Meet the Press” taped in

Milwaukee. He then met with local African-American leaders at the

Hilton Milwaukee City Center before attending church services on

the city’s north side.

Claiming he is, “the most electable of the Democrats,” Dean

pointed to his reputation for challenging Bush on education and

Iraq as well as Vermont’s health care, where all citizens under 18

have health insurance and seniors’ can rely on a prescription drug

plan, as reasons why he is the best democratic candidate.

“I have a record as opposed to rhetoric,” Dean said.

Addressing local concerns, Dean emphasized that only a Democrat

could take steps like small businesses investment to revitalize the

city of Milwaukee, and especially its black population.

“What’s good for the African American community is good for

everyone else too,” Dean said.

Dean, however, refused to comment when asked on the worsening

racial divide in Milwaukee, which is the United States’ most

segregated city based on the 2000 US Census.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dean is attempting

to appeal to the African American vote by linking Milwaukee’s

economic hardships to Republican fiscal policies, which Dean

labeled “a borrow and spend government.” Since 1970, Milwaukee’s

per capita income fell to 44th place among the 50 largest US

cities.