Not to defend Howard Dean (shudder), but I think he meant to say that no money was given directly from Abramoff to a Democrat. All money given to Democrats came from PACs.
As far as I know, Abramoff didn't give the money directly to Republicans, either. He was the go-between who specified who got what, and the money went to Democrats and Republicans alike straight from the Indians.
I think a woman on TV news whose name I forget got in terrible trouble with the left a day or two ago for saying that. It's a big secret!