Not once has Bill or Hillary said anything even remotely critical of Dean.Indirectly they both have criticized Dean's position on Iraq, if not Dean himself. But they don't care, for all the reasons you detailed, they have seen to it that no potentially electable candidate could build the support necessary to actually win the nomination. Gore endorsing Dean probably has both of the Clinton's laughing at how well things are working out for them and their 2008 plan.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&e=1&u=/ap/20031208/ap_on_el_pr/gore_dean "...In choosing Dean, Gore bypassed his own vice presidential pick in 2000, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who has been struggling in his bid to capture the Democratic nomination. Lieberman even waited until after Gore made his decision last December not to run before embarking on his candidacy.
The Lieberman campaign issued a terse statement Monday, saying, "I have a lot of respect for Al Gore — that is why I kept my promise not to run if he did. Ultimately, the voters will make the determination and I will continue to make my case about taking our party and nation forward."
Lieberman spokesman Jano Cabrera said Gore did not tell the Connecticut senator about the endorsement.
Another Dean rival, Rep. Dick Gephardt of Iowa, issued a statement questioning Gore's decision.
"Dick Gephardt fought side-by-side with Al Gore to pass the Clinton economic plan, pass the assault weapons ban and defend against Republican attacks on Medicare and affirmative action. On each of these issues, Howard Dean was on the wrong side," said Erik Smith, Gephardt's campaign spokesman.