Dean vows to carry fight past Wisconsin

Published 9:00 pm Monday, February 9, 2004

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean implored Wisconsin Democrats on Monday to “keep this debate alive” with a victory in the Feb. 17 primary, even as he suddenly revoked an earlier statement that he would drop his presidential bid if he loses here.

In an interview with Green Bay area television stations, he said, “we’re going to find a way to stay in one way or the other.”

At a later news conference, the candidate said he had reached this conclusion gradually – without a decision meeting or extensive discussion with his staff or family – over the past couple of days after many supporters at campaign stops here and in Maine on Sunday urged him not to drop out. “They don’t want to quit, and I’m not going to quit on them,” he said.

Primaries are scheduled for today in Tennessee and Virginia.