Howard Dean has emerged as the leading presidential pick among Democratic Party leaders, with more than twice the support of his closest rivals, according to a new Los Angeles Times Poll.
But the former Vermont governor is far from a consensus candidate, despite his recent run of success. About seven in 10 of the Democratic National Committee members interviewed said they backed some other contestant or remained undecided.
The poll shows the great progress Dean has made as a candidate in the last year. A similar sample taken in November 2002 found Dean in fifth place out of 10 prospective White House contenders. He was unknown to nearly half of those questioned.
At the same time, however, the new survey suggests that the Democratic contest remains fluid. With just more than a month until the first votes are cast, roughly one in five of the DNC members had not decided whom to support in the party's nominating fight.
"Though Dean is ahead in virtually every way you can measure this race, there clearly is some resistance to his nomination within the party establishment," said Charles Cook, editor and publisher of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. "This isn't yet a case of 'the train's leaving the station, we'd better jump on.' ... As well as things have seemed to be going for Dean, this nomination is not wrapped up just yet."
Dean was favored by 32% of the Democratic leaders surveyed, followed by Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri at 15% and Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts at 14%.
Retired Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark had 7% support, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina 5%, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut 3%, and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois 1%. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio and the Rev. Al Sharpton each had less than 1% backing.
The Democratic National Committee consists of roughly 450 local and state party leaders who make up the national party's governing body. Most will be delegates at the Democratic National Convention next summer. Many also control purse strings and hold sway over the party's message and election mechanics in communities across the country.
The Times Poll, under the direction of Susan Pinkus, interviewed 327 of 386 selected DNC members. Those who traditionally stay neutral until the nomination fight is settled -- such as national Chairman Terry McAuliffe -- were not included, nor were committee members living abroad.
