Just a few months ago, when Howard Dean was generating headlines for some controversial remarks, it became a real distraction for the party. Some high-profile Dems backed away from Dean, party leaders were constantly being asked what they thought of one provocative Dean comment or another, and there was even talk that Dean’s tenure as DNC chair was in jeopardy.
That was early summer. Today, subscription-only Roll Call explained that Dean’s troubles seem to be behind him. Now he’s spending less time explaining his remarks and more time on making a stronger party.
Despite the party’s growing cash disparity and some high-profile verbal gaffes, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean appears to be gaining the confidence of Congressional Democrats after 10 months on the job.
Even Dean’s one-time detractors on Capitol Hill are giving the former Vermont governor unexpected praise, saying he’s growing smarter about his role and toning down his sometimes incendiary remarks. They add that Dean has done what previous DNC chairmen failed to do: spend time mobilizing Democratic voters, building networks and relationships, and looking beyond the White House for Democratic opportunities.
It’s good to hear that the party has trust in its chairman. The article includes very positive remarks from the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, both of whom backed other candidates in the race for the DNC chair.
“I talked to the chairman in Pennsylvania, I have talked to the chairmen in a number of other states, Ohio, and I have been impressed with how positive their feeling is vis-a-vis Howard Dean,” Hoyer said. “And I congratulate him for that.” […]
“We’re all pleasantly surprised by how well the DNC has been doing at reaching out to people — not just the blue states — but all across the country and we can see it getting better and stronger,” said [one senior Senate staffer]. “I think the party is coordinated like it hasn’t been in a long time.”
There were a lot of people predicting disaster if Dean became DNC chairman. It’s good to see that they were wrong.