WASHINGTON — Onetime presidential contender Howard Dean announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party chairmanship Tuesday, dismaying some party leaders who feared a Dean victory would derail their efforts to reposition the party on national security and social issues.
This time last year, Dean was an insurgent presidential candidate who had ignited grass-roots support within his party -- and alarmed much of its congressional leadership -- with his stance against the Iraq war and his liberal views on social issues. His fundraising, particularly through the Internet, had vaulted the former Vermont governor and physician to the front of the pack as voting approached in the party's nomination race.
But then Dean placed third in the Iowa caucuses last January, gave a heated concession speech that raised questions about his temperament and never seriously contested Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry's path to the nomination. Democrats went on to suffer a bruising defeat in November, when Republicans retained the White House and widened their majorities in the House and Senate.
Many Democratic Party leaders have vowed to project a more moderate image on social issues, such as abortion, and a stronger image on national security. And they see Dean's candidacy for the party's chairmanship as a threat to the rebuilding strategy.
"The man has a love-hate relationship within the Democratic Party," said one party strategist, speaking on condition that he not be named. "He has his ardent supporters, many of them the party activists who will cast votes for the chairman of the party. And he has his detractors in Congress, who believe he sends the wrong message for the party at this time."
Dean's communications director, Laura Gross, said that if he was elected chairman, "he would not run for president in 2008."
Dean is banking on strong support from the same activists who fueled his presidential bid and who are heavily represented among the 441 delegates who will gather in Washington in February to select the party leader. Their backing would position Dean, who has been informally campaigning for the post for weeks, as a front-runner among candidates including former Texas Rep. Martin Frost, former Indiana Rep. Timothy J. Roemer and Simon Rosenberg, leader of a party centrist group.
Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Leland and party strategist Donnie Fowler are also running.
