Dean: Superdelegates Should Pick By July 1

Democratic Party Chief Tells CBS News That Dems Need To Unite, Avoid A Brokered Convention

(CBS/AP)  Democratic Party chief Howard Dean said in an interview with CBS News' The Early Show that he wants all Democratic superdelegates to make their choice before July 1 to avoid a contested convention.

Superdelegates are the nearly 800 party and elected officials who can support whomever they choose at the Democratic National Convention, regardless of what happens in the primaries.

"There's 800 of them and 450 of them have already said who they're for," Dean told co-anchor Harry Smith. "I'd like the other 350 to say who they're on between now and the 1st of July so we don't have to take this into convention." (Watch the video of Dean's interview.)

Dean also tried to tone down the ill will that is growing among supporters of Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I think the candidates have got to understand that they have an obligation to our country to unify," he said. "Somebody's going to lose this race with 49.8% of the vote. And that person has got to pull their supporters in behind the nominee."

Dean also talked with The Associated Press, saying the charges and countercharges between Clinton and Obama have gotten too personal at times. He declined to say how they have crossed the line, but he said he's made it clear privately when it has happened.

"You do not want to demoralize the base of the Democratic Party by having the Democrats attack each other," he said Thursday during the interview in his office at Democratic National Committee headquarters. "Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat."

"Because in the end this is not about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, it's about our country," Dean said on the The Early Show. "I want to make sure this campaign stays on the high ground."

"There is no point in waiting," he said. The Democratic political organization "is as good or better as the Republicans', and we haven't been able to say that for about 30 years. But that all doesn't make any difference if people are really disenchanted or demoralized by a convention that's really ugly and nasty."

Dean, the former governor of Vermont and 2004 presidential candidate, said he knows his critics say he should take a bigger leadership role in resolving some of these disputes. But he said that's not his role. Rather, he thinks of himself as a referee who enforces the rules in a close basketball game.

"Somebody is going to lose," Dean said. "My job is to make sure the person who loses feels like they have been treated fairly so that their supporters will support the winner."

Dean said the massive numbers of people showing up to participate in Democratic nominating contests across the country gives him encouragement that the eventual nominee will be well positioned to win the White House.

He said it is good for the candidates to debate controversies like the incendiary sermons by Obama's pastor and Clinton's different accounts of danger on a trip to Bosnia as first lady. If Democrats didn't deal with them now, he said Republicans will surely make use of them in the fall.

Dean also reflected the concerns of many Democrats who worry about Obama and Clinton tearing each other down.

"What I don't want to do is have the Democrats make a stupid mistake in April and then be sorry they said that in October and end up with some more right-wing extremists on the Supreme Court," he said.

Dean's supporters say he's working behind the scenes to resolve some of the issues. He's been consulting with party stalwarts about how to wrap up the nomination quickly after the voting ends in June, including former Vice President Al Gore, former presidential candidate John Edwards, former Sen. George Mitchell, former president Jimmy Carter, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

"There'll be some nasty fights if it goes to convention, and people will walk out," Dean said. "But I've also been talking to a fairly significant number of, by and large, nonaligned people about how we might resolve this."

Dean said he will not encourage any delegate to vote one way or another.

"I am going to stand up for the rules, and I know I'm doing the right thing most of the time because I've got both Clinton people and Obama people mad at me," he said.

For instance, while Obama's campaign has been encouraging superdelegates to support the candidate with the most pledged delegates - which almost certainly will be Obama - Dean says the rules don't require that and superdelegates are free to chose who they want.

On the other side, Clinton has been arguing lately that even pledged delegates - awarded to a candidate based on the outcome of state contests - aren't bound to vote for that candidate at the convention. Dean called that "a very technical argument."

"You aren't going to get pledged delegates to move unless something really shocking happens," he said. And he thinks it unlikely the superdelegates would support a candidate who did not have the most pledged delegates.

Dean also said the Michigan and Florida delegates will be seated at the convention. But he won't force a resolution because he said there's nothing the Obama and Clinton campaigns can support at this point.

"You bring both sides together and say, `Don't you think it's time that the two campaigns made a deal on how we're going to do this?"' Dean said. "Let me just say that the campaigns believe that kind of a deal is premature right now."

[antizion]

Dean is an insider from old money and should not be trusted. By trying to force the delegates to choose early, that gives them the opportunity to work the delegates longer or to sabotage the candidate in the media.

Don''t tip your hand delegates. Never make a decision before you have to and follow the will of the people. America is not going to take it anymore. Keep what you are thinking to yourself.

Obama 08!

[sgtrds]

If either candidate gets the nomination by using the superdelegates to overturn the committed delegate numbers then I don''t see any reason to bother to vote this year. I''ll stay home on election day.

[danstoned]

Republicon deregulation of their number one sponsors: Corporate America, is the number one cause of all that ails the US economy. The war in Iraq is why Americans now pay $3.50 at the pump. Want more of the same failed policies? Then Vote Hillary McCain, because either/or are the same.

[iknowbest-2009]

The more you watch the Demmies in action, the clearer it becomes we have nothing to worry about. Four more years of the GOP are a lock. President McCain - get used to it, libbies.

[sgtrds]

McCain is this election''''s Bob Dole. The GOP has already written off this election and is concentrating on 2012. They know they haven''''t a prayer of winning, so they''''re letting one of the long time guys have the fun of having his name on the ticket as their version of a gold watch before he heads to retirement. By this time next year McCain will be on TV trying to sell Viagra or Depends.

[blkpresident]

Mr. Dean,

PLEASE call that woman and simply make her an offer she can''t refuse. This party divisiveness has gone on long enough. Ask lil'' missy to do what''s best for the party and head home to her lonely kitchen stove. America MAY (not BIG may)be ready for a girl in 2072.

[danstoned]

Republicons Israel First platform will resonate very well with the American voter. So well that President Obama will be presiding over a Democrat majority in the Senate that picked up 6 seats. Dems will gain at least 35 seats in the House. Good luck ConDumbs with your Isreal First Treasonous platform.

[charisma9949]

SgtRDS: I totally agree with you. What is the point of voting if your vote doesn''t count?

[iknowbest-2009]

You two are right - you definitely shouldn''t vote.

[mbcsmith]

EEEEEEEEYYYAAAAAAAHHH. let''s disenfranchise millions of voters.

[rowdytexan2]

Exactly right! The superdelegates need to look at every vote! The will of the people should stand!

Winning delegates with marginal votes in districts with high delegate count, does not reflect the will of the people!

[setumstrt9]

IS THIS GUY EVER GOING TO GO AWAY?

WHO CARES WHAT HE THINKS.

HIS MOST MEMORABLE LINE........
"WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."

[tawpdawg1]

OK its time for everyone who hasn''t done so already to get on board with "OPERATION CHAOS". Come on "Clinton Supporters" out there (wink,wink). If you order an "OPERATION CHAOS" t-shirt or ball cap from www.rushlimbaugh.com and have it sent to the home address of a known "SUPERDELEGATE", you will recieve 25% off the cost. This is the best election, oops, I mean DEAL money can buy.

[gwagener]

Why July 1st? All the voting is done 3 June and the states after 20 May are so small that they can''t possibly make a significant change in the delegate count.
If this thing isn''t over the first week of June, then the Democrats deserve to lose in Nov. If they can''t settle this after all votes are cast and have to settle it at the convention, then they cannot run anything and surely should not be trusted with the nation''s highest office.

[donnell828]

The super delegates will get together and vote during the 2nd week in June. At that time, all of them will publicly let the party know who they want. Their votes will be added to the pledged delegates and the winner will trounce McSame in November.

[jockh]

HILLARY CLINTON - READY TO LIE ON DAY ONE !!!!

First she denies that she was pro NAFTA. White House schedules have now been released, showing she held several high profile meetings to endorse NAFTA.

Second she tells outright lies about her bullet dodging trip to Bosnia.

The big problem for Hillary is that the American people know how easily the Clintons lie. Taking a leaf from Bill she will say: Well, it depends on how you define "sniper fire" and "ran". And then we will hear her say I DID NOT HAVE MILITARY RELATIONS WITH THAT SNIPER.

Misspeaking is one thing, repeating it over and over makes it a FLAT LIE !!

She cannot win the Democratic nomination without causing a civil war in the Democratic Party. Her recent actions, especially comparing herself to, and praising, McCain while undermining Obama, make it appear that she is willing to do just that -- split the party in two. Seriously, can you imagine McCain saying that that he had a lifetime of experience, Hillary had a lifetime of experience, but Romney didn''t? That would never happen. It''s unacceptable. And it has to stop.

I get that it sucks to lose. But, it happens. Hillary, drop out with your head up high. Unless of course you''re ducking sniper fire again

[sgtrds]

Dean disenfranchises Florida and Michigan for moving their primaries up, but now wants to move the decision up from the convention at the end of August to July 1st.

You folks deserve this idiot.

Posted by trapbreak at 11:03 AM : Mar 28, 2008

Actually in the case of Florida it was the republican controlled legislature that moved the primary up over the objections of the state democrats after the Democratic National Committee told states they wouldn''t honor early primaries. It was their way to cause problems for the Democrats.

[aldon61]

Let''s get this thing over. Why wait until July 1st? Puerto Rico''s primary is June 3rd, make the votes known by June 5th.....end this thing and stop the bleeding.

[sgtrds]

SgtRDS: I totally agree with you. What is the point of voting if your vote doesn''''t count?

Posted by charisma9949 at 10:35 AM : Mar 28, 2008

I''m not too worried about it though. I believe the party will do the right thing and follow the will of the party members by giving the nomination to the one with the most pledged delegates.

[random_radar]

The identity politics ideologues have always been able to unite the Democratic party behind the Liberal White Man candidate. This year the Republicans united behind the Liberal White Man.

Now the Democrats are left with two factions of identity politics fighting it out--race versus feminism. This illustrates the problem with telling groups of people that they have been horribly wronged as a class--instead of working together, they battle each other to win the crown of MOST DISENFRANCHISED.

And the result is that they will pull defeat from the jaws of victory and prove to themselves yet again that they are disenfranchised. Republicans may be evil, but Democrats are plain stupid.

[donnell828]

Clinton''s high negatives with Democrats notwithstanding, every Republican under the sun will find a way to vote AGAINST her in November if she''s the nominee. Her negatives with Republicans must be at least 85%

[mike71067]

"What I don''t want to do is have the Democrats make a stupid mistake in April and then be sorry they said that in October and end up with some more right-wing extremists on the Supreme Court," Dean said.

But I''ll bet he''d be perfectly ok with left-wing extremists on the Supreme Court. Jackasss.

Operation Chaos is in progress! God Bless Rush Limbaugh!

[blkpresident]

PA. voters, PLEASE send lil'' missy a loud and clear message to pack it up. Then we won''t have to hear about super-delegates; Florida & Michigan; Rev. Wright; etc...which only hurts our party longterm. Send the lil'' woman home and let''s unite our party and unleash the Obama shuffle on OLD man McCain.

[obamagrls-bf]

wud Americans stil vote CLINTONS after BOSNIA lies?

any pensillvannians here comments pls ..

we know that CLINTONS have no moral, if they had , surely wud have dropped out after bosnia sniper..


but to all americans here " are we blind ? aren''''t any elligible person in maerica to lead the country? and only see CLINTONS and BUSHS even though we know they lied " ...

Herllo Clintons - IS this the way to show patriotism?


dont give excuses that OBAMA is also a lier ..

[dc2331]

You all are so negative toward clinton - look at her policies and look what she has done for New York - She also was covered by a very negative press for years and nothing so un-American was ever found - Obama now says had he known what he knows now about wright he would have left the church - come on that does not pass the laugh test - Michelle Obama also talks in very negative ways toward this country - why not defend you candidate with why he is better when we all know now that he lied!! He is just not ready -

[blkpresident]

dc2331,

Since you believe Lil'' Hillary deserves a chance, please name ONE thing she has ever done to benefit America. Just ONE, and if you''re stumped, I understand.

Please spar us the attempt to bring about universal healthcare, etc..I mean something real and not from fantasy land. Just ONE thing.

[donnell828]

dc2331,
If we look at what NAFTA has done for New York in jobs lost after Hillary promised thousands in job gains, then you can see why some are not being negative but realistic.

[repdemapart]

Howard Dean and the DNC kept silent all this time while wtaching democrats and the party disintegrate.

His announcement is too little too late. Had he made this announcement earlier on, it wouldn''t be this ugly.

Howard Dean you failed 4 years ago and you failed this time around again.

[darrren12000]

finally - a plan. too bad it''s too late to save the party. what a stupid leader you are dean. so glad you didnt become president. the media raked clinton over the coals and worshipped obama. everyone with 1/2 a brain knew the lovefest wouldnt continue. while it went on clinton''s supporters became angry and upset...and clinton became an attacker....then the media switched and went after him. now he is no longer the lord obama without human traits. and his side is angry at clinton - because she, of course, orchestrated the media flip flop (lol). add to it the superdelegate controversy and two key democratic states not having a voice in the process and you get: PRESIDENT JOHN MCCAIN. GOOD WORK DEMS! ONLY THE DEMS COULD LOSE TO THE REPUBLICANS AT ONE OF THEIR WEAKEST POINTS IN HISTORY. GOOD JOB. THIS IS AWESOME.

[dc2331]

Hillary has brought aid to the first responders for 9/11 - She has helped farmers get aid for falling prices - she is working to keep businesses in this country - she has helped get the military benefits for vets coming home - not just phone calls but real benefits - She work to make national health care an issue an then we got SCHIP - she has been talking about the mortgage crisis for over a year - and her earmarks did not send 1million dollars to an employer that then gave Michelle obama a pay raise from 160,000 a year to 320,000 a year - look at Obama''s tax returns and his earmarks! it is all there !! And while in Illnois how many nice things did he do for Rezko???? Obama needs to be President so he can pardon Rezko

Name the things that Obama has done - the ethics things is fun - because now they just can''t sit down -

He complained about Sen. Clinton''s vote on the Iran and he didn''t vote - he made his 2002 speech after Rev. Wright made his "chickens come home" speech - Oh yea he did know about that - that entire district was anti-war and anti-American that is why he made that speech!!!

And he never says he was never a muslim he says he was never a practicing muslim - what church did he belong to 20 years ago before he joined Rev. Wrights Church - so much more to come out - can''t wait until all the Rezko stuff comes out - maybe October!!

[repdemapart]

BLKPRESIDENT -

Hillary chided the Chinese Government in protest to the it''s treatment of Women. This she did whike in CHINA.

SHE HAD THE BALLS !!!

[repdemapart]

BLKPRESIDENT-

Name us one single most important wide accomplishment of NOBAMA is his public life?

[tawpdawg1]

---OK everyone take a break now because Limbaugh will be on every single AM radio station in America in two minutes to tell you how to foul the Democratic primary election selection process. See you in an hour. Gawd bless Rush and Gawd bless "OPERATION CHAOS". What a GREAT AMERICAN !

[darrren12000]

blkpresident - you are talking about divisiveness and you are going around saying sexist mess? anyhow - obambi will lose to mccain. enough clinton supporters, myself included, will not vote for someone with moronic supporters like you. sorry. done deal. prez mccain is your destiny.

[beader59]

Hillary in 08. Obama is a joke. He would be like having George Clooney or Denzel Washington running for President. I fear Obama winning. He is a big mistake.

[stn_sage]

Howard Dean said he would like delegates to announce who they''re supporting by July 1st. It''s something he''d LIKE them to do---it''s not in the form of a requirement, yet!

It appears he''s sticking to the rules, as all candidates agreed, prior to the start of the primaries!

Yes---this bickering needs to end. This campaign should be about issues and not ''mudslinging'' to win!

[lorinkundert]

No matter how you slice it, Hillary cannot possibly win without convincing the "super delegates" to ignore the popular vote, igniting a rebellion within the party.

[lorinkundert]

I would vote for ANYONE other than Hillary, even George Bush if he could run again.

[repdemapart]

If y''all think..Hillary''s campaign is being so negative on NOBAMA.

WATCH AND WAIT .... for the REPUBLICAN smearing machine.

you''re all cry babies !!!

[sheila1346]

I heard Howard Dean say the reason they now have super delegates is so the voters won''t decide they want an inappropriate candidate. If a person should come close to winning the nomination that the party does not want to win they will have the super delegates choose the nominee instead of the voters. That is outrageous and should not be allowed to stand. It should be up to the voters to choose and no one else. The problem is we do not have a democracy but a democratic republic. It is way past time for us to get rid of the two party system with delegates, super delegates and the electoral college. Right now it''s about money and power, the voter is really a joke. You should not have to be a millionaire or billionaire to run for President. Lets clean up our elections so we have one voter one vote with anyone who chooses to run being on the ballot. You start at the county level and the winners advance to the state level then the winners from the state elections have open debates on TV and then a national vote is held where the top two become President and vice President. That is a real democracy and it works in other countries. Any one from an electrician to a house wife have the same chance regardless of money. Obviously you would choose who you think is most qualified. With the cabinet and other advisor''s to give advice this system would be fair and equitable, a real government for the people and by the people.

[repdemapart]

Nancy Pelosi is a useless and clueless. She declares being neutral and yet she stands on an argument that benefits one particular candidate.

Nancy Pelosi, shut eh piehole. have you read your approval rating?

[repdemapart]

People just don''t get it. The more y''all smear and heate Hillary.. the more she thrives.

you never learn ... very typical.

[squidly8]

NO! This needs to go down to the convention. Fight on Hillary! We need you to cause chaos and back biting in the Dem nomination process. We need you to continue to fill the GOP databases with dirt on you and Obama. Please! Please! Please stay in the race!

This whole process has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. It really is entertaining to see them hacking at each other. Especially Hillary trying to scratch and claw her way in a race that is virtually impossible for her to win. I love it!

The Dems had this presidency in the bag 18 mos ago and now it is just slipping away! And they are using all the evil tactics that they claim the GOP used in 2000 and 2004. Intimidation, swift boating, disenfrachisement. It is totally comical. What a bunch of buffoons!

[beinformed]

The Bosnia statement has been overblown. I read the transcript of her speech and believe her when she says she misspoke, she left out three words that changed the meaning of a story that she has repeatedly told true. The words left out are "the threat of", which is true. The media and Obama will latch onto anything.
Why do we not hear of Obama''s lies, which have been bigger than this messup by Hillary... NAFTA, Mrs. Palmer, taking Hillary on her word about the Kenyan garb photo at the last televised debate then later telling crowds in Mississippi that her campaign circulated the photos... those are but a few of the many Obama lies, or habit of saying one thing and doing another...

[realpatriot1]

repdemapart,

The stand that Pelosi took is the only fair position and the only one that''s good for the Democratic Party and democracy in general.

Anyone who isn''t wearing an extremely thick set of partison blinders can see that. The reason that position happens to benefit one particular candidate is because that candidate has won the most popular votes, the most elected delegates, and the most states.

In other words, one candidate has won and the sore loser and her supporters are trying to blow up the Party and are whining and crying because the public didn''t choose them.

Get a Life!!

[jack3213]

ALL THE MUDSLINGING IS JUST A REFLECTIOIN OF THE CHARACTER THAT EACH DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE REPRESENTS. NO MATER HOW YOU SUGAR COAT IT, OR APOLOGIZE FOR MIS-SPEAKING, OR DENY OVER STATE QUALIFICATIONS, IT WOULD BE DISGRCEFUUL FOR EITHER OF THESE CHOICES TO WIN, THEY ARE A POOR DEPICTMENT OF A LEADER.

[squidly8]

beinformed has guzzled down the Clinton Koolaid.....and gone back for more.

[pam1sadge]

I love that you have the nerve to tell everyone else to "Get a Life" when you are here posting, making your comments, and doing what the rest are doing. Hypocrit!

[gunownerdan]

All you nazi "superdelegates" can ****************!!!

[oleander8]

I don''t see bitter attacks by the candidates, and I believe they will work together once a winner is declared. The bitter attacks come from places like this posting board - hateful people. The pundits, and the media whip it up by creating issues out of nothing in order to sell their rags and collect their inflated salaries.

I''m 100% for Clinton, but if she doesn''t get the nomination - I''ll be 100% for Obama. There isn''t that much difference between them except for political experience.