5 years ago
Former presidential candidate Howard Dean is now the only person left in the race to run the Democratic party.
He's expected to be elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Saturday. Wednesday night he met with hundreds of supporters.
Todd McDermott went there to ask him whether this new job will be a launching pad to get the job he really wanted.
Todd McDermott's report
Looking every bit an election day winner, Howard Dean filled the Capitol City Brewery to the rafters.
Perhaps it's the right place to bring this debate to a head, over who gets to be the Democrats top dog. Dean's message is, be proud to call yourself a Democrat.
"It is worth reminding Americans that it was Democrats who thought we ought to have homeland security not the GOP. It was the Democrats who stood up for honesty in foreign policy", says Dean.
But can he really instill pride in every Democrat? And can the Democratic party unite behind him?
"He has the power to excite people in the base", says supporter Melissa Berger.
But this is the Howard Dean some Democrats remember from the campaign. The one some insiders worked to take down. And when you look at the latest CNN/USA TODAY POLL of top contenders for the presidential nomination in 2008 from Senator Hillary Clinton on down, none are members of the Howard Dean fan club. But Dean drew so many mostly young democrats several hundred even waited outside for their man. Governor Dean told the crowd to turn around and look at the Capitol, a building he hopes the Democratic Party will reclaim in 2008.
The question is, what building he'd like to occupy in 2008?
Dean seemed tell me it is not the White House.
"I'm not running in 2008, not running. Not running in 2008", says Dean. But Howard Dean sure does look like a man who would rather be a candidate.
Governor Dean told his audience, if they want to rebuild America and their party, get ready to run for office. You have to wonder when he'll take his own advice.
Click on video to see Todd McDermott's report.
Written by Todd McDermott
