Howard Dean wants it over in June

But will it end with a scream? You know, the one he wishes he could take back?

Howard Dean worries that infighting by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- and among their supporters -- will demoralize the party’s base and damage the Democrats' chances of winning the White House in the fall.

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, himself a candidate for president in 2004, told the Associated Press that he hopes that the party’s nominee will be determined shortly after primary voting ends in early June -– and he will encourage party superdelegates to make up their minds before the party’s convention in Denver in August.

The countercharges between Clinton and Obama have grown too personal at times, Dean suggests.

"You do not want to demoralize the base of the Democratic Party by having the Democrats attack each other," Dean said. "The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat."

The superdelegates, the nearly 800 party and elected officials who can support whomever they choose at the convention, ought...   

UPDATE: Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy says why wait?  Clinton should quit now.

to decide soon. "There is no point in waiting," Dean said. "Somebody is going to lose. My job is to make sure the person who loses feels like they have been treated fairly so that their supporters will support the winner."

Dean has been quietly consulting with party stalwarts about how to wrap up the nomination. He has spoken with former President Jimmy Carter, former presidential contenders Al Gore, John Edwards and Jesse Jackson, former Sen. George Mitchell and former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (if you haven't heard from Dean yourself by now, there's probably no sense sitting by the phone).

"There'll be some nasty fights if it goes to convention, and people will walk out," Dean said. "But I've also been talking to a fairly significant number of, by and large, nonaligned people about how we might resolve this."

-- Mark Silva

Mark Silva of the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau wrote this for The Swamp blog.

Comments

[Remove Dean!]

Howard Dean should now step down - this crisis is beyond his ability and vision.

This needs to be resolved in the next two weeks, not next two months!

There are less and less democrats each day, and more and more Clinton-crats and Obama-crats.

You are not only risking your career, but our nation as well!

[Loyal Democrat]

To Hillary Supporters: Is it worth it to support a candidate with almost no hope of winning, at the cost of your party?

Why?

[Indy]

Even when the democrats pick a candidate, won't the other just be forced by their followers to go to the Independent Party and carry on this nightmare to the end?

The longer this continues, the deeper the divide gets.

The longer this continues, the more the democrats suffer, and the more the republicans rejoice.

[Cesar]

This isn't about parties. It is about issues and experience and everyone that supports Barack Obama has been swayed by the media the same way California voters were swayed into voting for Arnold as governor. Grow up America!! It's time to see who the real person with experience is.

[Fred]

I agree with Remove Dean. This whole affair has been grossly mismanaged by Dean, the DNC and Pelosi. The end result will be John McCain in 2009.

[Gerrrg]

Leaders of a political party want to control the politics of the party, such that they're able to determine the winner in lieu of a good ol' fashioned, lay it all out on the line battle. And that's the party I belong to?

Talk about no faith in the system. They would rather start politiking now for the General Election, than to allow the Primary system work its way through the calendar.

It therefore is no wonder why Conventions have no meaning, and people are fleeing the 2-party system.

[socalfedup]

I think this continued in-fighting goes to Hillary’s character and her inability to govern herself, her husband (you vote for one, you get that OTHER one) or her staff. The mud slinging that she has initiated and continues to engage in has hurt the Democratic Party and her presidential position as well. She is a disgrace and she will never have my vote no matter what the outcome, because she has shown herself to be unworthy and without enough innate class to keep her composure in check.
Truly all in support of her stepping down should drag her kicking and screaming, if need be, so that we can all move on!

[Gerrrg]

Don't be stupid. You don't tell a competitive person involved in a close race, to quit.

Competitive people don't quit, and they sure as hell don't like to lose. People that aren't competitive don't understand this.

If you want a competitive person to quit when the race is close, you have to offer an incentive that is greater than the cost of staying in the race.

You were given a brain to use, so use it.

[lilibet]

I truly believe that the DNC with Coward Howard wants Obama to be the nominee, therefore they have done nothing constructive to solve the Michigan and Florida conflict, of which the DNC is the origin by playing favorites by allowing some states to move up their primary while denying Michigan and Florida the same permission. What they do not seem to want to face is that if Obama is the nominee the Republican attack machine will make minced pie of him. He has not been seasoned by this campaign because since Iowa the media have not only been soft on him, they have openly advanced his campaign while continually attacking Senator Clinton in any way they can.
Also what the DNC is not taking into account is that the media loves John McCain more than they love Obama.
As for calls for Senator Clinton to drop out, we only become more determined to not let that happen. Why should she drop out? National polls have them both in a statistical dead heat.

[Matt Newark]

I think the Democrats should be allowed to play this out, and Hillary shouldn't quit. She should continue her fight for what she believes in, and what so many people believe in. There is such a stark contrast between the 2 Democrats.

If the Democrats lose the White House, at least they could hold their heads high with the satisfaction that they gave Americans everything they had - - that in the face of defeat, they can never be called quitters.

[taheati]

In response to the laughable, treadworn meme of -- {cue tears now} -- Clinton the Persecuted, the ONLY candidate of this cycle touting more media teflon than John McCain is none other than Hillary Joan-of-Arc Clinton.

Witness numerous Clinton donors, associates, advisors, campaign employees -- including but not limited to Hsu, Berger, Blumenthal, Rivera, Rosen, Jinnah, Danielczyk, Lerach, Celis -- who have been arrested, indicted, charged or convicted with everything from felony DUIs, bribery, racketeering to obstruction in the context of CRIMINAL activity DIRECTLY related to Clinton's campaign that have not, with the exception of Hsu, attracted NOR sustained mainstream media attention to the degree of Obama vs. Wright-Rezko.

Of course, unlike Clinton, Obama's comparative lack of unseemly affiliations is precisely the reason molehills like Wrignt earn mountaious attention while Clinton VAST sewer of sleaze flows unimpeded and barely noticed else risk reflex shrieks of "media bias" even when Clinton plunges headfirst into said sewage, ibid. the Tuzla Bamboozla.

Don't believe all polls. There are and will be legions of Obama supporters, especially among the young and minorities, who will NEVER vote for Clinton after this primary EVEN if it means voting for McCain.

[Jayman]

Dean's presence shows how poor the Democratic Party has become. Leahy ought to be saying there is no way Democrats can win nominating Obama for President! Obama is the one who ought to quit defrauding the American people!

[Clinton is the right one]

If Obama wins the democratic nomination I will vote for McCain. I cannot vote for such an unqualified person. The democrats need to wake up and detach from the Obama dream machine. We cannot afford another loser administration.

[jk Arizona]

Dean should act now. Thank you Senator Leahy! It's time for the democratic leadership to step up and control the selfish and power hungry Billary!

I am a 68 year old, white, working female. I voted for Bill Clinton (I am now ashamed of that decision).

Billary's political behavior has brought Cheney-Bush tactics to the Democratic primaries. She has demonstrated that she cannot control her campaign, her husband's political behavior, or her own words. She does not take responsibility for her actions or her surrogates! Of course, "none of our business." If Hillary can't control these areas of her campaign, she is not qualified to run the country? There is no reason a woman cannot be president, just not this woman!

I, as well as many Americans, are sick of the behaviors, tactics and pain the Clintons have inflicted on us for so many years.

Mr. Dean. please stop them NOW. Let us move forward.

[PierreSD]

First of all, as an Obama supporter I will vote for Clinton. I will hate myself but there is ONE reason I can NEVER vote for McCain: the Supreme Court. He will turn it into a radical conservative enclave for the next 25 years. To all of you Hillary and Obama supporters who swear they'll vote for McCain, plaster a picture of Thomas/Alito/Roberts/Scalia next to your bed so that you remember every morning why you shouldn't!

Second, the nomination is not "close" in any sense of the word. Clinton is substantially behind in pledged delegates; there is no way she can catch up barring an overwhelming victory in every single state left. She is behind in the popular vote. Don't cry "but Florida!" That primary was a beauty contest and Hillary agreed that it would be a beauty contest before she didn't; if she was the champion for Florida's voters she's making herself out to be now she would have fought for their inclusion back in 2007... why didn't she? Oh yeah, that's right, because that would have alienated Iowa and New Hampshire. Do you think she could have won New Hampshire if she was agitating to have the Florida primary counted in December?

[jkdunn]

when you look at Hillary Clinton's records as First Lady you will notice that she spent much of her time traveling, giving speeches to crowds, kissing babies, etc. she did not spend a lot of time in substantive meeting that decided policy.
If you look at what she is doing today you will see that she is traveling, giving speeches to crowds, kissing babies, etc. She is really good at that. Politics as usual.
When she says she will be the one with "experience" to "get things done" she means she knows how to work the political system in Washington to get things done, like traveling, giving speeches to crowds, kissing babies, etc.
But what the American people, who are more informed and involved than ever want is not Politics as usual, but a real change in how our government runs. Not back stabbing, personally ambitious politics as usual.
America! Stand up and Get Real! Get Involved and make The American Dream A Reality!
An America Patriot

[CHristines]

Obama has many negative items yet to come! In addition to Pastor Wright, Farrakahn, Slum Lord Tony Rezko, etc. Obama has some other unsavory connections!
We have some time before the election and the whole truth about Obama will surface1

[Paul]

To Hillary Clinton: Please do not listen to these idiots telling you to quit. There are states yet to vote and everyone deserves to have their vote counted. PLESE DONT LEAVE THE RACE HILLARY!!!

It Hillary is not on the democratic ticket, I will be one of the 28% of Hillary supporters who will turn my vote to John McCain. It will be the first time I will have ever voted Republican in a National election. I hate the way Hillary have been treated!

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Hey Hillary here is a thought, save all your criticisms for McCain and try for the Democratic nomination on just your merits. Instead of casting aspirins upon Obama, why not see if people want you for who you are. Oh, that probably wont work for you.

[LaurenR1]

Dean should resign! What a terrible head of DNC..He is responsible for this mess..Why in an important election year would you create a negative situation for the Democrats? The order of states in the primary is hogwash! Every person's vote should count and this should have been negotiated prior to the primary season.
The votes for these states would clearly make a differnce in the tight race. It appears that Dean, Reid, Pelosi are posturing for Obama and risking that 30% of the Hillary contigent to will walk from the democratic folds. Great leadership! Truly disgusting!

[MonaL]

If folks like Leahy, Pelosi and others continue to press Hillary to quit the race, then I'm not a Dem anymore. Let the people vote!

For those of you who think it should end now, read this:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=2ae1b82c-0420-4e47-adba-4af115719d47

[ImaIdiot]

Don't be stupid. You don't tell a teamplayer involved in a close race, to stay in and hurt the team!

Teamplayers don't backstab, and they sure as hell don't like to be backstabbed. People that aren't teamplayers don't understand this.

If you want a teamplayer to keep hurting the team when the race is close, you have to offer an incentive that is greater than the cost of helping the team.

You were given a brain to use, so use it.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Hillary would be the first Democrat to run on a SPITE platform.

[maggie]

I really dislike Obama he is inexperienced he's a phony black, he's a proven liar....WHY...WHY...WHY... is he even running..I will vote for Mccain if he is the candidate. I HAVE NEVER VOTED REPUBLICAN...I really dislike him and his wife and his phony balony!
Once abain it proves an idiot is better than a woman in American politics....this has ZERO to do with the fact he has lived a total white mans life until it was convient to become a "black Man."

[stu]

I say Patrick Leahy step down from your seat.

[EJDubya]

This is what happens when you have a serial primary system. I say there should be one national primary, winner take all, and get on with it. All this dragged out affair accomplishes is to provide the "loyal opposition" with more ammunition.

[Autumn Brown]

Regardless of what anyone feels about Obama or Clinton one fact remains: nothing in politics is happenstance. If you look to history and how candidates were chosen in the past it ALWAYS went to the convention and the rounds of voting went on there and the pledged delegates fought the fight for their candidate to win. How were future candidates introduced? At the convention. Obama gave the 2002 speech. As did Kerry before him, and Bill Clinton before him. If it looks like Hillary is really going to bat against the party heads and they seem in the corner for Obama is because this was ALREADY A DONE DEAL. She knew it, which is why in the fall of 2006, just prior to Obama announcing his candidacy (remember he announced first, not the other way around), after she won re-election to the Senate, when asked if she was going to run for president Hillary replied that she was just re-elected and intended to serve her entire term. That term ends in 2010. Why say that if you had every intent to run? Also, if you take Hillary out of the full list of candidates this time last year, and pit Obama against the others we would have been done with this on Super Tuesday. I do worry for Hillary. If she steals the election, her life will be miserable. The most powerful person in D.C. (make no mistake) is not the president. It is the Speaker of the House. If Hillary keeps pissing Pelosi off, she will shoot herself and her policies in the foot. House democrats will hold up every bill on her direction. And remember, Hillary made a lot of these folks mad between 1992-2000. People don't forget. We have to ask why, if she has two more years in the senate on Obama they have the same number of bills passed? Bad memories run deep. But the issue is this, yes Barack will have to deal with his issues, but Hillary has affirmed her 35 years of experience to include her time as First Lady and "part of the administration." She can play up all the good things, but she will have to answer for the mistakes of that administration as well. Like, why didn't the Clinton administration deal with Al Queda in 1993 during the first World Trade Center attack instead of giving those terrorists 8 years to plot and even more heinous act? They have to deal with the investment scandals, the pardons, etc. And the media has been kind, but the Lewinsky thing is important in that Hillary is a masterful politician. You can't tell me that she didn't know her husband lied during his speech. If anything, she was probably the first person he called. So, just as we scour Obama's past we have to do Hillary's AS A CANDIDATE, her earlier scrutiny was as a FIRST LADY. There is a difference. We don't expect from the first lady what we do from the president and I think her judgement is equally important.

[mafox1]

Posted by: PierreSD | March 28, 2008 at 12:53 PM
"Second, the nomination is not "close" in any sense of the word. Clinton is substantially behind in pledged delegates; there is no way she can catch up barring an overwhelming victory in every single state left. She is behind in the popular vote. Don't cry "but Florida!" That primary was a beauty contest and Hillary agreed that it would be a beauty contest before she didn't; if she was the champion for Florida's voters she's making herself out to be now she would have fought for their inclusion back in 2007... why didn't she? Oh yeah, that's right, because that would have alienated Iowa and New Hampshire. Do you think she could have won New Hampshire if she was agitating to have the Florida primary counted in December?"

/ / / / / / / / / / / / /

What if Hillary Clinton and/or Barack Obama said in the beginning that Florida and Michigan votes should count even if both states were going to break party rules? Why, the voters would have been up in arms accusing them of not supporting their party's rules, how could they be trusted, blah blah, blah blah. Neither of them had a choice but to agree with the penalties. Howard Dean should have found a way to avert the fiasco of excluding two of our 50 states from this important election. Personally, I think he didn't mind because he knew Florida would vote for Hillary and Hillary isn't his choice. What kind of a leader is he?

[Jim]

Gerrg:

"A competitive person don't like to be told to quit."

That's why it's OK for Billary to ignore the odds of her winning the nom (2%) and the odds of her ruining the party in November (98%)??

That's just plain ol' selfish, for Billary to stick it through because she can't concede certain defeat. False pride is getting in the way of doing the right thing.

"You don't tell competitive people to quit unless you offer them something greater in return...."

The sense of entitlement is just overwhelming. Why does it always have to end well for the loser? Someone has to tell the loser the facts.

She is going to lose. And if she doe not face that fact, she will lose AND the party will lose. Something greater in return....how about a united Democratic Party? Or is that really not what Billary care about the most anyway?

[jennifer potenciano]

i used to remember that a lot of people--americans, filipinos, europens, others--used to admire a dean: james, not howard. the movie icon was well worth our votes. i can't say the same for the political animal that is dean.

now howard isn't worth his seat at the democratic party--for being, in a way, autocratic.

h. dean is just a shade less so than leahy, dodd and casey. the last three, urging hdc to quit the nominating contest in favor of obama, lust for their 15-minute share of fame at hillary's expense. well, what do you expect these three by-now certified obama fans would say, other than break hillary's heart.

But as one perceptive reader puts it, why didn't these three guys air the same opinion before the ohio and texas primaries, or after new hampshire's?

now it's so easy for them to jump into what they opportunistically perceive to be a hitchride to the white house. that perception could be a dud, as i'm leery of a case that these chaps make of it.

let dean, leahy, dodd, casey & company be democratic enough as to factor in the votes of michigan and florida democrat voters--by any means. disenfranchising them won't look good for a party with such a grand libertarian name, but with opposite practice.

let's then see how the math, after hearing out the michigan and florida voters, will somewhat change--and i think it will be in hillary's flavor.

can't these four chaps, and their likes, see the adoring crowds that hillary packs in, or speaks to in various fora? are these audiences--of all classes and educational attainments--not representative enough of the popular votes that obama says he's got "wrapped up"?

can't dean, dodd, healy and casey see what these crowds want to impart? that they want hillary to fight on, in fact, that they want hillary to be the democrats' presidential nominee?

in fairness to hillary, may i humbly suggest that in a similar fashion, all great names supporting hillary should make known their desire that obama should bow out of the race--in favor of the more experienced, more substantive, more statesmanlike candidate that hillary is.

that would be the day i'd love to see.

[Elvis...has left the building]

Dean fatigue is getting the best of me. I guess he wants
to get even for his flopsicle of 2004 by foisting on the party an Obama nomination wich guarantees a royal
evisceration of the dems in november. Hillary should start
by taking her kid gloves off and call a spade a spade.
Enough with the miss congeniality stuf.Go for the jugular!

[Jon]

Hillary is plain and simply a thug! And she can't wait to get into the pockets of americans.

Today she made it official declaring that if elected she'll make americans pay 5 to 10% of their wages to the profit hungry american medical establishment.

[Hillary o muerte]

Dean or Leahy same s/%?" different name. Men of huge
ego and poor vision,blemished by years of pandering to
the poor misguided leftist,rabble rousing lunatic fringe, so
active in the socialistic conspiracy who wish God to damn
everything we hold dear about America. Yes to progress,
under a disciplined and balanced president Hillary.

[Jen]

Rules are Rules. The nominee must have 2,025 delegates. Neither of the two candidates has accomplished that goal. Even if Mr. Obama does have the most pledged delegates it does guarantee him the nomination. Therefore, it must go to the convention. Mr. Obama constantly preaches the rules of the DNC as they relate to the Florida and Michigan situation. He should practice what he preaches and must also learn to adhere to "The Rules" before he has those that support him or speak on his behalf and voice his position.