Editorial: A new role for Dean

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 | 11:02 a.m.

Today's pop quiz: Name the chairman of the Republican National Committee. If you're stumped, don't feel bad. Not even many political junkies know that Ken Mehlman, who served as campaign manager for the Bush-Cheney '04 presidential bid, is chairman of the Republican National Committee. Traditionally, the chairmen of both the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee have toiled away at the low-key -- but crucial -- tasks of fund-raising and grass-roots party mobilization throughout the country.

Several months ago top Democrats -- and Republicans, too -- were surprised that former presidential candidate Howard Dean would want such a job, given his penchant for being the center of attention. But, over the weekend, state party officials selected Dean as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Many Democratic leaders in Congress, such as Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are wary of Dean. They don't believe the former Vermont governor -- lampooned for the "Dean scream" that hastened his exit from the 2004 presidential campaign -- should be the voice of the Democratic Party. They hope that the former Democratic presidential candidate sticks to the basics of the job -- fund-raising and building a better grass-roots organization for the party. Dean would be wise to listen to their adv ice. Democrats in Congress and those who are governors -- all of whom were elected by the people, not by party activists --! are in the best position to set their party's agenda.

Although Dean was a divisive figure during the Democratic primaries, his tenacity created a strong base of support for his 2004 presidential campaign and energized activists and younger voters, an intensity that also translated into record donations for Democrats. If Dean can productively rekindle that kind of grass-roots enthusiasm again, as he says he will, he very well could be a positive force for change for the Democratic Party.