LA Times: Dean Wins the DNC Primary

[NoPasaran]

WASHINGTON — The leading group of state Democratic Party officials on Monday backed Howard Dean's bid for the party's national chairmanship, establishing the former presidential candidate as the contest's prohibitive favorite.

"I think the race is over," Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party, said after the decision.

-snip-

Dean's opponents had been hoping the state chairs' group would back another contender for the DNC post, perhaps triggering endorsements from elected officials and members of organized labor uneasy about the prospect of the former Vermont governor's succeeding outgoing chairman Terry McAuliffe.

-snip-

But Democratic insiders said the state chairs' decision probably reduced the odds that the AFL-CIO political committee would endorse a candidate in the race at its meeting in Washington today.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dnc1feb01.story

[realFedUp]

1. With talk this morning of labor and blacks possible breaking away

there will be a lot of challenges for every
Dem party leader in this country this year.

[madfloridian]

2. Explain to me what is going on with SEIU, Stern, and Sweeney...and

another leader, Hoffa, I think. Looks like problems, and I can't get a handle on it. I did find this.

http://www.prospect.org/web/printfriendly-view.ww?id=8934

[redsoxliberal]

3. this is great news!

It may be in the bag, folks.

[sonias]

4. Frost drops out of DNC chair race

It's over folks. With Frost out the TX DNC votes will go to Dean.

(sorry I don't have a story link from Yahoo. I got this via e-mail)

Frost Drops Out of Race for DNC Chairman
30 minutes ago U.S. National - AP
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost dropped out of the race
for Democratic national chairman on Tuesday after failing to win the
backing of organized labor, winnowing the field to front-runner
Howard Dean and three challengers.

Frost's decision came hours after AFL-CIO leaders decided not to
make an endorsement in the race for Democratic National Committee
chairman.

Frost had counted heavily on organized labor to give him a boost
against Dean. Many in the AFL-CIO were prepared to back Frost at one
point, but he had not shown enough movement in the race to win labor
support, union officials said.

Sonia

[Kolesar]

5. Salon.com has the same report

I don't know if you need a subscription to see it. I have had one for years.
http://salon.com/news/wire/2005/02/01/frost/index.html

[Fleurs du Mal]

6. NYT - "Dean Emerging as Likely Chief for Democrats"

"WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 - Howard Dean emerged Tuesday as the almost assured new leader of the Democratic National Committee, as one of his main rivals quit the race and Democrats streamed to announce their support of a man whose presidential campaign collapsed one year ago."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/02/politics/02dean.html?oref=login&hp

[janx]

7. While things look promising, I'm going to wait until after the 12th

to really celebrate. Anything could happen.

[sonias]

8. I'll wait with you janx

But I'm happy as hell waiting. There's no reason we can't have high hopes. It's time things started breaking our way.

Sonia