Didn't Sanders already announce he would run, and Dean embraced him?
Dean said publicly that Bernie is not a Socialist, but a Liberal.
Sorry, I blew the wording. I probably should've worded it "I'm not sure I BELIEVE that Bernie is running." Howard Dean put the proviso that "We've got a few things to work out. Bernie's not a Democrat.
Same article (Bennington Banner, May 10th): "Jeff Weaver, Sanders' chief of staff and campaign spokesman, said the congressman won't formally announce his candidacy until 'much later this year.'"
I've seen subsequent articles refer to him as if he were runing, but I haven't seen him declare. And I'm not positive he'll join the Democrats, and I take Dean's message to say that even Dean has a problem with his candidacy since he's not a Democrat.
Vermont's Democratic AG wants the nomination. So if Sanders won't become a Democrat, how's he going to get the nomination? The only way the Democrats support a non-Democrat is if there IS no Democratic candidate. But unless AG changes his mind, there will be one. So Sanders will HAVE to become a Democrat.
By the way: Dean is head of the DNC. They support Democrats for non-federal (i.e., gubernatorial) contests, and for the Presidency. They do not support Senatorial candidates. That's the DNSC. So Dean's opinion is little more than a politician's praise, not even an endorsement.
Will Sanders get the nod? Brain says he will. Gut isn't sure.