Harkin says he’ll back Dean for DNC

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean appears to have enough votes to become the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Dean was the front runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 before his third place finish and infamous screaming speech at the Iowa Caucuses. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin backed Dean in the caucuses and was on stage with Dean for the scream speech. Hark says he’d endorse Dean again as the leader of the D-N-C. He says, “I think Howard Dean could be a great national chairman of our party. I think he’s got the right formulation for building our party from the grassroots up. Getting more Democrats at the local level elected.” Harkin says Dean has the right approach for “getting the Democratic National Committee out of Washington.” Harkin says Dean would represent the party well. He says, “I think he’s a great spokesman too. He’ll be a good leader for Iowa too, I believe.” The chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson, says the eight voting members of the Democratic National Committee from Iowa have endorsed Dean for the top party post. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack considered running for the position, but pulled his name out of the running in November.