Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Dean is gathering steam!!! Frost Drops Out of race for DNC Head.
Looks like the lackeys at the DLC are not getting their way. Thank You Howard Dean for proving that you are the one to take the reins and whip this party into the opposition party that it needs to be. The grassroots Dems will reward you in full.
Frost has dropped out, not getting the labor endorsement he had hope for.
Leaders Back Dean to Head Democrats Nationally
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31-The Association of State Democratic Chairs endorsed Howard Dean on Monday to become the next national Democratic chairman, bucking its own executive board and providing that once sharp critic of the party an establishment stamp of approval as he surged ahead in the contest.
Within hours of the vote, one of the other seven candidates, Wellington Webb, withdrew and endorsed Dr. Dean, citing his overwhelming number of votes.
"With the endorsement from the state chairs, it became mathematically clear that Howard Dean has the votes to win on the first ballot," Mr. Webb, a former mayor of Denver, said.
The combination of the decisive endorsement and Mr. Webb's withdrawal created a sense among many Democrats that Dr. Dean's election on Feb. 12 was becoming close to a sure thing. Democrats said that at this point, two candidates could still emerge to stop Dr. Dean: Donnie Fowler Jr. of South Carolina and former Representative Martin Frost of Texas.
"The train is leaving the station, and we hope to get everybody aboard," a strategist for Dr. Dean, Steve McMahon, said. "It looks like it's starting to break open. But we're not taking anything for granted."
Mark Brewer, the Michigan Democratic leader who heads the state association, described its vote as a potentially decisive event in settling out the crowded field.
"He's taken a giant step toward becoming the next D.N.C. chair," Mr. Brewer said. "Now that you have a nationwide group of experienced party leaders saying, 'We think he is the best qualified,' I think that will have an enormous impact on other D.N.C. members."
In a vote on Sunday, the executive board of the association recommended that the entire association support Mr. Fowler. But in a 90-minute conference call on Monday, the state leaders voted not only to rebuff the board, but also with a margin that stunned Mr. Fowler's supporters : 56 votes for Dr. Dean to 21 for Mr. Fowler. More Here
Frost Quits Race for Democratic Chief
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 7:32 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost dropped out of the race for Democratic national chairman on Tuesday after failing to win the backing of organized labor, winnowing the field to front-runner Howard Dean and three challengers.
Frost's decision came hours after AFL-CIO leaders decided not to make an endorsement in the race for Democratic National Committee chairman.
Frost had counted heavily on organized labor to give him a boost against Dean. Many in the AFL-CIO were prepared to back Frost at one point, but he had not shown enough movement in the race to win labor support, union officials said.
The former congressman said Tuesday he had called Dean, the former presidential candidate, and ``congratulated him for running a strong campaign. The challenge ahead for Governor Dean will be to unite the party, rebuild the DNC and win elections in every region of the country.'' More Here
Frost has dropped out, not getting the labor endorsement he had hope for.
Leaders Back Dean to Head Democrats Nationally
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31-The Association of State Democratic Chairs endorsed Howard Dean on Monday to become the next national Democratic chairman, bucking its own executive board and providing that once sharp critic of the party an establishment stamp of approval as he surged ahead in the contest.
Within hours of the vote, one of the other seven candidates, Wellington Webb, withdrew and endorsed Dr. Dean, citing his overwhelming number of votes.
"With the endorsement from the state chairs, it became mathematically clear that Howard Dean has the votes to win on the first ballot," Mr. Webb, a former mayor of Denver, said.
The combination of the decisive endorsement and Mr. Webb's withdrawal created a sense among many Democrats that Dr. Dean's election on Feb. 12 was becoming close to a sure thing. Democrats said that at this point, two candidates could still emerge to stop Dr. Dean: Donnie Fowler Jr. of South Carolina and former Representative Martin Frost of Texas.
"The train is leaving the station, and we hope to get everybody aboard," a strategist for Dr. Dean, Steve McMahon, said. "It looks like it's starting to break open. But we're not taking anything for granted."
Mark Brewer, the Michigan Democratic leader who heads the state association, described its vote as a potentially decisive event in settling out the crowded field.
"He's taken a giant step toward becoming the next D.N.C. chair," Mr. Brewer said. "Now that you have a nationwide group of experienced party leaders saying, 'We think he is the best qualified,' I think that will have an enormous impact on other D.N.C. members."
In a vote on Sunday, the executive board of the association recommended that the entire association support Mr. Fowler. But in a 90-minute conference call on Monday, the state leaders voted not only to rebuff the board, but also with a margin that stunned Mr. Fowler's supporters : 56 votes for Dr. Dean to 21 for Mr. Fowler. More Here
Frost Quits Race for Democratic Chief
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 7:32 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost dropped out of the race for Democratic national chairman on Tuesday after failing to win the backing of organized labor, winnowing the field to front-runner Howard Dean and three challengers.
Frost's decision came hours after AFL-CIO leaders decided not to make an endorsement in the race for Democratic National Committee chairman.
Frost had counted heavily on organized labor to give him a boost against Dean. Many in the AFL-CIO were prepared to back Frost at one point, but he had not shown enough movement in the race to win labor support, union officials said.
The former congressman said Tuesday he had called Dean, the former presidential candidate, and ``congratulated him for running a strong campaign. The challenge ahead for Governor Dean will be to unite the party, rebuild the DNC and win elections in every region of the country.'' More Here
