Posted on 04/16/2008 8:03:07 PM PDT by Red Steel
After issuing a warning to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that negative campaigning threatens to tear their party apart, Democratic Party chair Howard Dean said the candidates need to keep their tone focused on winning the White House in November.
In a Friday interview on "Good Morning America," Dean cited record turnout but noted "some personal criticism" between the candidates.
"We have to keep our mind focused on the idea that at the end of the day we really need change in these country," Dean told ABC's Diane Sawyer. "One of these two candidates needs to win. We're going to win unless we divide ourselves and that, we cannot do."
Dean Suggests Super Deadline
Intense back-and-forth on the campaign trail have left the two Democratic candidates with a narrow margin between them.
In a race that could be left to the party's nearly 800 leaders who have independent votes in choosing the Democratic nominee on the convention floor, Dean says he'd like the superdelegates to announce who they're supporting by July 1.
We don't want this to degenerate to a big fight at the convention," Dean said, "This is an evenly divided party with two great potential nominees. I need to make sure that we all play by the rules that we all agreed to a year ago that the person who loses will be just as strong a supporter of the person who wins."
Some Democrats have been looking to Dean to step in to referee the fight between Clinton and Obama as it rages on.
On Friday Dean said, "Most of the insiders that are saying these things are aligned with one candidate or the other. What they would like somebody to do is step in agree with them and then make what they want happen."
Looking to November
Clarifying his role in resolving the tightly contested Democratic race, Dean said, "My job is to make sure we elect a Democratic president That is what we're going to do. But we're going to do in in a unified way and we're going to do it with the consent and working together of both candidates."
Dean would not elaborate on his conversations with the candidates to the tone of their campaigns but said, "At the end of the day both of these candidates have an obligation to our country to support the other and make sure their supporters do as well."
Democratic Infighting
Rules are rules, Dean said in response to former President Bill Clinton's suggestion late Thursday that his wife would be the Democratic frontrunner if the nation's 40 primaries counted but not its 18 caucuses.
"It's the caucuses that have been killing us," Clinton said yesterday in a call with supporters.
20 Clinton-supporting Democrats wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who, like Dean and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is thus far neutral in the Democratic race angry at the speaker's suggestion that letting superdelegates decide the nomination would be harmful to the party.
The donors reminded Pelosi that they've made past donations to Democratic members of Congress. The Obama campaign called the letter "inappropriate."
Second Coming of Wright?
Incendiary remarks made by former Obama pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright continue to create buzz.
Some of the latest questions revolving around a 2007 church newsletter where a guest commentator makes the ludicrous claim that Israel worked with South Africa to develop an "ethnic bomb that kills Blacks and Arabs."
Appearing on "The View" on Friday, Obama defends his decision to stay with his church following Wright's recent retirement.
"Had he not acknowledged that what he said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I think is the great character of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn't have felt comfortable staying there at the church," Obama said on the show.
ABC News' Jake Tapper contributed to this report.
I’d be wary of any plan Dean came up with. But then, I’m not a Democrat.
Op Chaos... gather ‘round and watch the miserable RATS consume themselves.
All highly amusing.
But it won’t mean squat if we get to Nov 5 and we still have a RAT Senate and House. Read the tag.
Oh heyyy, Dean showed up!!
Squeaking from the corners as if he’s relevant.
What a circus!
Keep stomping those feet little man I’m sure all of those important Superdelegates are just going to jump at your suggestion when they can enjoy all of the perks until Sept.
Herding cats.
I think it would be funny to see Nadler's weigh in.
I think tonight’s debates showed movement towards reconciliation between Obama and Clinton, and maybe a joint ticket.
I mean, hell, they got vetted all the way around tonight by a ‘traitorous ABC’ (LOL).. there is no true friction between the two, and the party will beg for their kiss and make-up right after the PA primary.
I truly believe there is a genuine anger and tension between these two. It all goes back to the day that Hillary followed Obama down to Selma, Alabama. Ever since that day, I believe Hillary has been convinced that Obama stands to take it all away from her. I can hardly see him allowing her to run as his VP, and I know in my heart that she despises him too much to be the Obama VP. I also know that she does not trust him at all, so it would make no sense at all for her to allow him to be her VP. Just my $.02.
And never forget this, just when you think combatant Senators despise each other:
However, I don't think that McCain is going to allow himself to lose at this point.
For the good of Western Civilization, I hope he does not allow himself to lose to Clinton.
There is a lot of anger between those two people.
I personally believe it all began at Selma, and got far worse with Richardson running to Obama after the defection of the Kennedy clan.
I can just see the ashtrays flying...
There’s also talk of giving the NY Governorship to Clinton if she will just behave until it’s time for her to gracefully withdraw.
You sure know how to cough up some great pics. I’m going to remember to ping you when we need them.
Pictures are priceless when it comes to non-verbal cues.
It's all in the eyes and facial gestures when it comes to the clear animosity that exists between Clinton and Obama.
I just pray the Clintons don’t rip off the nomination. Don’t know how much longer my blood pressure meds will help before we find out.
After issuing a warning to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that negative campaigning threatens to tear their party apart, Democratic Party chair Howard Dean said the candidates need to keep their tone focused on winning the White House in November... Dean says he'd like the superdelegates to announce who they're supporting by July 1... Clarifying his role in resolving the tightly contested Democratic race, Dean said, "My job is to make sure we elect a Democratic president ... That is what we're going to do. But we're going to do in in a unified way and we're going to do it with the consent and working together of both candidates." ...Rules are rules, Dean said in response to former President Bill Clinton's suggestion late Thursday that his wife would be the Democratic frontrunner if the nation's 40 primaries counted but not its 18 caucuses... Incendiary remarks made by former Obama pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright continue to create buzz. Some of the latest questions revolving around a 2007 church newsletter where a guest commentator makes the ludicrous claim that Israel worked with South Africa to develop an "ethnic bomb that kills Blacks and Arabs." ... "Had he not acknowledged that what he said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I think is the great character of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn't have felt comfortable staying there at the church," Obama said on the show.
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