Dean Denies Rumor He'll Challenge Obama in 2012

Tweet

Former Gov. Howard Dean is denying rumors that he's gearing up to challenge Pres. Barack Obama in the 2012 Democratic primary.

A widely-read political column posted on Politico today ("In 2010, could Dean beat Obama?" by Roger Simon) is raising new speculation that Dean, still a powerful voice among progressive Democrats, is laying the groundwork for a primary challenge.

Here's an excerpt from the column:

President Barack Obama sounded humble, almost meek, Wednesday at his news conference. “No one party will be able to dictate where we go from here,” he said. “We must find common ground.”

Howard Dean took a somewhat different tone on the phone with me the same day. “If Republicans think we’re going to slow the growth of Medicare and Medicaid and give tax cuts to those making a million dollars a year, we will wrap that around their necks and beat the hell out of them in 2012.”

Finding common ground with Republicans versus strangling and beating the hell out of Republicans — which one do you think an angry and dispirited Democratic Party might go for?

Both men were thinking about 2012, and Obama’s people have long been thinking — grimly — about Dean.

Some of the most influential members of Team Obama do not like or trust Dean and have long feared he would challenge Obama for the presidency if only given an opportunity.

So, is Dean trying to pressure Obama from the left as a way to possibly challenge Obama in 2012? Nope, says the former five-term governor.

"Neither. The reporter essentially re-arranged quotes and made this up. I am not running. Period," Dean told Seven Days via email.

Comments

[Media person]

if Obama's people are so concerned about Dean, then why didn't they co-opt him by making him Surgeon General?
I mean beside noted a-hole Rham Emanual being ticked off that Dean wouldn't give him more campaign money that he proved not to need in order to win.
Dean's tenure at the DNC, where he was a champion of the 50-state strategy, was hugely successful.
After Tuesday's election does ANYONE think that that the current head of the DNC is enjoying the success Dean had?

[blinkin']

"After Tuesday's election does ANYONE think that that the current head of the DNC is enjoying the success Dean had?"

True, but different circumstances make direct comparison imprudent. GWB was a bigger asset (yes, but what I said was asset) to the Dems than even Dr. Dean.

The charm is having both: Tiny Tim Tiptoe Through the Tulips Obama and varsity wrestler Hollering Howard on the same tag team. Journalists inventing contention between them adds drama and exposure that can only help. People are drawn to rivalry. You simply don't challenge a sitting President directly but there needs to be a focus for the frustration with apparently endless appeasement of evil. Appeasement has strategic value but frustration with it also has value if fanned, bottled and channeled. I think they know what they're doing.

Far more interesting is impending brawling on the other side. Republicans rely on discipline and some of those lunatics simply can't shut up. There may be occasional intemperate remarks, just possibly.

[dale tillotson]

How about this? Dean runs for Mayor of Burlington in 2012.
Wouldn't that be interesting?

[oy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he'd want to spend his evenings with Kurt Wright and Ed Adrian.