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"People talk like that when they're embarrassed over their candidates, or when they're gutting Social Security," Dean said. "They can't talk about George Bush, so they resort to personal attacks.
"So far, I've been called a racist, a terrorist, an abortionist and anti-Semitic," he added. "That says an awful lot about the Republicans."
...Dean said Monday that he will emphasize in coming months that Democrats more accurately represent mainstream America. It is not the Democrats attempting to gut Social Security, he pointed out, and promised to back up his claims in future elections.
...
While he has emphasized that congressional leaders will speak for the party on critical issues like the war in Iraq, he remains committed to ending it.
"Events will do that," he said of turning public opinion. "I think the real issue now is: How do we get out?"
As Dean begins his two-day tour of New York, he reiterated that upstate proves that traditional Republican voting trends can be reversed. He predicted that his party will gain in the State Senate and Assembly next year and that races for mayor of New York and governor will energize the base.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050222/1030662.asp