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Dean Kicks Off DNC Meeting
The Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting had the atmosphere of a min-convention: the candidates’ supporters were out in full force, handing out literature and waving placards.
The Democrats appeared so excited that when Chairman Howard Dean asked the members and guests to take their seats so they meeting could begin, he got a rousing round of applause.
The Democrats were expecting the same kind of lightning that occurred four years ago when Dean, with a rousing speech, vaulted to the front of the 2004 presidential pack.
Dean recalled that speech in his brief remarks this morning. Four years ago, he said he represented “the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.” It was a criticism of efforts by others to move the party to the political center. This morning, though, Dean said he was proud simply “to be a Democrat.”
Dean has gotten criticsm as the DNC chair for his 50-state strategy, an attempt to rebuild the party in states that are overwhelmingly Republican.
But at today’s DNC meeting, the parade of Democratic presidential candidates, as well as other major party officials, all praised the chairman for his 50-state strategy.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, for example, noted that Dean “got a lot of flak” in the party from people who thought he should spend his time “hustling money.”
But Reid said the Democratic victory in last year’s congressional elections was due in part to Dean’s efforts to revitalize the Democratic Party in states where Democrats have not been competitive.
Similarly, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois said that thanks in part to Dean and the DNC’s efforts, progressives “can compete anywhere” in the country.
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