WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Democratic Divide, Part 1

Democratic Divide, Part 1

Washington, D.C. - April 21, 2008

Spring in Washington, D.C.; hot, busy and in full bloom.

It's a town with many bold-faced names that now includes another Vermonter.

From tourists to taxi cab drivers... Howard Dean has become a national figure.

Asked if she knows who Dean is, Flo Ditzler of Nebraska answers, "Yes. He's the head of the Democratic party right now."

"He's the Democratic National Committee chairman. He's former candidate for President-- he got in trouble for yelling in Iowa," says Marlin Schneider of Wisconsin.

"He's a doctor. I don't know why he's in politics," wonders taxi driver Arun Rode.

Told of the taxi driver, Dean says, "That's interesting... very interesting that he knew about me. Well I have a big constituency in Washington cab drivers, they still stop me and say, 'hey Dean- man you go!'"

From a deck off of his office, Dean has a view he rarely gets to enjoy.

"This is not the high-rent district like the Republicans who are two blocks away. I have to go by them on the way to the hotel. I have a residence hotel I stay in when I'm here," he explains.

He's usually in Washington, D.C. just one day a week-- the rest are spent traveling the country.

Asked to explain his job as DNC chair, Dean says, "Well, we've sort of redefined the job since I took it. This used to be mostly a fundraising operation, now we've put in a political operation."

Dean is credited with expanding party operations in all 50 states: a controversial idea that paid off. In the '06 elections, Democrats made gains in state legislatures and in Congress.

Now, as he wraps up a four-year term, Dean says, "There (have) been a lot of surprises, but one is that I'm learning to deal with Washington. It's very interesting-- much different then Vermont... Well the first thing is you can't say the first thing that comes into you mind and that of course is one of my trademarks as Governor."

Asked to compare the difficulty of being Governor versus chair of the DNC, Dean says, "Being chairman of the party is harder, being Governor is more fun."

Dean works long exhausting hours-- a 14-16 even 18-hour day is pretty typical. But one thing that's remained a constant throughout his four-year term as party chair is that he makes sure to leave Washington every weekend to return home to Vermont.

"So there was no particular reason to move. It's cheaper to live in Vermont-- and it's disruptive-- I'm a Vermonter anyway," he says.

It's a decision that's prompted criticism by some in the party who worry Dean doesn't have enough connections to help resolve the current democratic divide.

"Howard Dean is more of an outsider," observes CBS reporter Bob Schieffer.

But the veteran political correspondent says Dean is respected in Washington. "For one thing he is quite candid and has a reputation for that and that's quite rare in the people we deal with in all of these jobs now."

Channel 3 News reporter Kristin Carlson asks, "You followed Dean some on his Presidential run, do you see any differences or similarities with who he is now as head of the DNC?"

Schieffer: "Well... he doesn't scream as much."

Asked if he's having fun, Dean jokes, "That's a little strong for the hours I work and the aggravation. As I've told a lot of people, I was overpaid for the first three years and very underpaid for this year."

Dean is in the middle of an election mess no one predicted. What happens could define his legacy as party chair and he's not ready yet to talk about what's next for him-- it's all about the election.

Kristin Carlson: "So if there was a Democrat in the President's office would you consider staying here and working for the administration?"

Dean: "No, I almost certainly... Oh in the administration-- I don't know-- I might consider that. I thought you were asking would I stay at the DNC. This is a very different job when you are working for a Democratic president, you basically become the political operation of the White House and I don't want to do that."

Carlson: "But you might stay on?"

Dean: "I don't know what I'll do, but it's important that we win-- that's what I'm focused on."

With the potential of a party split happening on his watch, Dean says he is taking steps to prevent a nomination battle at the convention.

Kristin Carlson - WCAX News

Related Story:

Democratic Divide, Part 2