Confident Dean hoping to energize Demos
The former Vermont governor, a physician-turned-political firebrand, said Friday he has secured enough votes to be elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Though the move will not be ratified until the group votes in Washington next Saturday, rivals continued to drop out of the race, and Dean made plans to move into Democratic headquarters and begin plotting a strategy to rebuild the demoralized party.
"He has learned a lot from his experience running for president," said Linda Honold, the chairwoman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, who decided to support Dean over more than a half-dozen other candidates. "If he hadn't, that would have bothered me."
For Dean, the party chairmanship offers another chapter in an unlikely rise from small-state governor to leading presidential contender to fallen candidate. Along the way he became a Democratic phenomenon, gaining a devoted following through the Internet and in grass-roots political circles.
While Dean based his presidential candidacy on staunch opposition to the war in Iraq, his platform for Democratic leader comes with far less controversy. For weeks, advisers said, he has spent six to eight hours most days calling party officials in all 50 states to ask them for their support as he pledges to rebuild the party to win back the White House, Congress and a majority of gubernatorial seats across the country.
"He's got new energy," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who talks frequently with Dean and approved of his candidacy to lead the Democratic Party. "He understands that our party has to go South and go West. He understands that there is a real opportunity to take the kind of activism that was very evident in his last campaign to the Democratic chairmanship."
Several senior Democratic officials said Friday that Dean almost certainly had secured the votes needed to assume the chairmanship, an insider's position in Washington where raising money, recruiting candidates and setting the party's direction are bedrock.
A former mayor of Denver dropped his bid to challenge Dean last week, followed by a former congressman from Texas and then party strategist Donnie Fowler of South Carolina, who endorsed Dean on Friday night.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., who also unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination last year, said: "He wasn't my first choice. I felt we needed a bridge-builder at this point. But I will respect whatever decision the DNC makes. And if it's Howard, I'll go along."
Comments
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...



You can be the first to comment on this story.