CNN

(CNN) - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that presidential debates should include as many candidates as possible, not just top-tier candidates.

Dean, a 2004 presidential candidate, was in fourth place among Democrats at this point in the race in 2003.

"As you may remember in 2004, if the debates had been focused on the top-tier candidates, I probably wouldn't have been on the stage until about June. I think we want to include as many as possible," the former Vermont governor said.

In 2004, Dean was one of the most effective candidates in raising money via the Internet. He praised the format of the CNN/YouTube debates and offered advice to the Democratic candidates.

"This is a big deal. This empowers ordinary Americans to get into what we call a two-way campaign, so you get to hear from candidates, ask them questions directly, all in front of a national audience," he said. "So we're delighted. The only advice I have is, answer the questions that people ask. This really is the no-spin zone, when ordinary, real Americans get to ask the questions on YouTube."

–CNN Associate Producer Natalie Apsell