Dean raised $7.5 million in his second-quarter fundraising totals, half of what he made in the first. Nearly $4 million of that money was raised on the internet, staggeringly high considering the medium. However, Dean has unflatteringly been compared to George McGovern who, in 1972, as an anti-war candidate, took his party by storm, won the nomination in the face of opposition by the Democratic establishment, and then went on to lose 49 states to President Nixon in November. Whether or not the comparison is justified, the early primaries haven't even taken place yet. There is still a lot of room for error and improvement for Dean.
Probably the most interesting and colorful candidate, Rev. Al Sharpton has no experience in office, however bid three times for public office: twice for US Senate from New York, and once for mayor of New York City. Some feel, however, that Sharpton is a distraction with no chance of winning and would actually be helping the Republican's cause. Sharpton's issues are very civil rights based and is tackling subjects directed at the average American. He plans to more people to be aware of politics and get involved in the political process. He also wants to provide a solution to the nation's educational crisis and provide bigger tax cuts to middle-classed working people and deliver a national Universal Health Care plan. Sharpton is also being compared to an unsuccessful Presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson, also African-American. Jackson, who sought the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988, where in two attempts for presidency, he took home eight primaries and won almost 10 million total votes. He also helped register a great many first-time voters, especially blacks; something Sharpton has been trying to do also. Whether Sharpton lives up to the comparison, it is unlikely seeing as how Sharpton does not posses the credibility that Jackson had with both blacks and whites.