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Edited on Fri Jan-28-05 05:12 PM by cryingshame
Ex-Clinton Aide Ickes Backs Dean for DNC
13 minutes ago U.S. National - AP
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Harold Ickes, a leading Democratic activist and former aide to President Clinton (news - web sites), said Friday he is backing Howard Dean (news - web sites) to be chairman of the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) — giving a powerful boost to the front-runner.
"I think all the candidates who are running have strong attributes, but Dean has more of the attributes than the others," said Ickes, who considered running for chairman himself before dropping out in early January. "Many people say Howard Dean is a northeastern liberal, he is progressive, but his tenure as governor of Vermont was that of a real moderate."
Ickes, who heads the political action committee of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites), D-N.Y., said the endorsement was his alone and "does not reflect Sen. Clinton's opinion."
While Ickes would not comment on the Clintons' preferences, he is a close ally and would not be endorsing Dean against their strong objections. No one was immediately available in Sen. Clinton's office to comment.
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