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Dean to Depart DNC a Hero

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 11:03 AM on November 10, 2008.


Who will take over as chairman?

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I very clearly remember the reaction from the political establishment when former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was chosen to head the Democratic National Committee. Most responded with two words, "Uh oh."

Four years and two very successful campaign cycles later, Dean's achievements as chairman are unquestioned, and the benefits of his innovative 50-state strategy are self-evident. We learned today that Dean is departing the DNC, but he'll leave as something of a hero. Sam Stein reports:

After four years at the helm of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean is preparing to relinquish his chairmanship.

Dean, who has been serving in the post since 2005, has said in the past that he would serve only one term, though his successful work with the Obama campaign had led some Democrats to wonder whether he would stay on into the next administration. This won't be the case, officials at the DNC confirm. He will serve as chair until his term ends in January. The party will settle on a new head when it hosts a meeting during the week of Obama's inauguration.

In sheer political terms, the choice really wasn't Dean's to make. Indeed, any decision on who will serve as the next DNC chair will come with directives from Obama and his aides.

Rumor has it that Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a close Obama ally and effective campaign surrogate, is a leading candidate to fill Dean's shoes, with Steve Hildebrand, Obama's deputy campaign manager, likely to take over day-to-day operations at the DNC.

But no matter who is selected, Dean has left an indelible mark on how the party operates, and how it approaches national elections. Indeed, for all of Dean's detractors -- inside the Democratic Party and out -- the former governor leaves knowing that his strategy was vindicated, thanks to unambiguous election results.

Stein added that Dean's vision is "poised to become party orthodoxy," and Dean may even "extract promises from all potential replacement candidates to preserve the 50-state-strategy." Even his would-be successors are smart, this won't take too much arm-twisting.

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Tagged as: obama, washington dc, dnc, dean


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bummer
Posted by: drmflorida on Nov 10, 2008 12:54 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I sure hope that naysayers like Schumer and Emanuel don't try to end the 50 state strategy without Dean there.

Its hard to imagine what we can't achieve if we continue to build Democratic majorities in the states that have been dismissed so long by Beltway snobs.

I'm looking forward to a Democratic legislature in Florida. Stop laughing, it WILL HAPPEN.

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» RE: bummer, indeed! Posted by: OldRedleg
Rahm in, Howard out...
Posted by: schiffer on Nov 10, 2008 2:42 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
GaaaaaaaH!

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» RE: ahm in, Howard out... Posted by: weathered
Hmmmmmmmmm...
Posted by: ranchero42 on Nov 11, 2008 12:49 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
aren't we gonna need a health care czar?

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Dean played the game
Posted by: weathered on Nov 11, 2008 2:32 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
he did his part.

While he's far too young to retire and way too smart to disclose the dark truths a candid courageous book sold on-line outside MSM would restore some trust.

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» RE: Dean played the game Posted by: Shey
Howard Dean
Posted by: Shey on Nov 11, 2008 3:20 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
His contribution to rebuilding and rejuvenating the Democratic party can't be overstated. He deserves so much credit for this historic victory.

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Dean - the might have been
Posted by: zipper696 on Nov 11, 2008 6:54 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I always had a lot of time for Dean. He is obviously WAY more intelligent than most of his colleagues and the nonsense about the "Dean Scream" that sidelined him last time around can be placed at the door of Faux News.
He should not be put aside, there must be an appropriate portfolio in the Obama Administration, he is too good to waste.

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