November 10, 2008
Posted: November 10th, 2008 03:15 PM ET
Dean will not seek another term as head of the DNC.
Dean will not seek another term as head of the DNC.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - As expected, Howard Dean will hand over the reins at the Democratic National Committee when the party meets again in January.

The 2004 presidential candidate's approach - innovative Web outreach techniques and a determination to compete in areas that have not historically supported Democrats - have dove-tailed with those of President-elect Obama.

But incoming Democratic presidents are traditionally given the prerogative to select their own candidate for the post, which is then approved by party officials. The position tends to dramatically recede in importance when Democrats control the White House.

Filed under: DNC • Howard Dean


paul (staunch Moderate)   November 10th, 2008 6:45 pm ET

PELOSI SUCKS November 10th, 2008 5:12 pm ET

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE DID TO MI AND FL

HE IS A THUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________________________________________

You are wrong. All Dean did was enforce what had already been agreed upon by ALL the candidates involved. That's not being a thug – that's doing the job you were hired to do.

Phil-Little Rock   November 10th, 2008 6:29 pm ET

Take your screamin' behind back to Vermont and stay there!!

Matt   November 10th, 2008 6:26 pm ET

LOL that is without a doubt the worst picture of Dean ever. The microphone looks like it is attached to his lips and it moves to make him talk like a Jim Henson puppet. Which when you think of it it is pretty true as Dean is just a puppet for Pelosi and Reid and the last time he said anything off script was his Yeeehaww moment that cost him the nomination.

Dean all I can say is good night, good riddence and go far away so I never have to hear of you again.

Katie   November 10th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

He did a great job! Thank you Howard Dean!

themexcellentone   November 10th, 2008 6:18 pm ET

Howard Dean has been a uniting force for the Democratic Party, and will be leaving his post on a high note–the best way to leave a job. I hope that President-elect Obama keeps him around to serve in the new administration as Health and Human Services Secretary. It would be awesome to have someone who has first hand knowledge of our healthcare system in on the ground floor of crafting healthcare policy.

Thanks, Governor Dean...your service has been tremendous and will not be forgotten!

Danny G. Boca Raton, FL   November 10th, 2008 6:12 pm ET

not sure I understand the hate for the guy... he got us started on a path to run in all 50 states. thank you for your service.

jt   November 10th, 2008 6:11 pm ET

Hey catholic mom.... So the nation spoke, but what did she say really?? So many people were deluded into voting for Obama who in turn will disappoint them. So what did everyone really say??? Just you wait and hear the disappointment in the voices after Obama has fallen down from his ivory pedestal that they put him on. You can be sceptical all you want, time will prove non Obama supporters right.

Steve   November 10th, 2008 6:04 pm ET

Thank you for a job well done, Gov. Dean.

PUMAs, you are sad and pathetic little people. Sen. Clinton, who helped our President-elect in Pennsylvania and has overall shown some real grace, deserves far better than the likes of you.

Put Up or Shut Up   November 10th, 2008 5:54 pm ET

J.P. – Instead of spewing your venom, why don't you run for office and make the changes you want?

Catholic-mom-4-OBAMA   November 10th, 2008 5:49 pm ET

@ MARC IN VIRGINIA........ WILL YOU GIVE IT UP? DID YOU NOT ........SEE.........THE ELECTION TOTALS????? OUR NATION SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR.

***WARNING TO PUMAS*****

WHEN YOUR CANDIDATE RUNS IN ......2016........... YOU WILL BE BEGGING OBAMA SUPPORTERS TO SUPPORT YOU!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY.

lori from pa   November 10th, 2008 5:47 pm ET

Good Riddance and take Brazile with you !

Janice   November 10th, 2008 5:47 pm ET

Good , he sure didn't do us any favors. He was against Hillary all the way. See ya.

boered1   November 10th, 2008 5:47 pm ET

I respect this man for standing up to the crybabies of Michigan and Florida and the liar hillary's smear machine- they knowing violated the rules and were punished as they were told they would be before they broke the rules! He enforced the riles of the DNC that was his job.

Thank goodness for men of his character if he had not done the right thing we might have had the moron McCain in office.. or worse yet the liar hillary!

No More Republican "BS"   November 10th, 2008 5:43 pm ET

He's going out on about the highest note possible.

jrzshor   November 10th, 2008 5:38 pm ET

which clinton (bill) loyalist will get that job?

change. from the old to the older.

The Lady   November 10th, 2008 5:37 pm ET

We will miss you.

Nj in FL   November 10th, 2008 5:35 pm ET

Go and don't show your face again. You helped Florida & Michigan not to count, so you don't count to me now. The dems may have won, but we were left with your leftovers. Thanks for nothing, too bad Pelosi and Reid don't join you.

Danny in Chicago   November 10th, 2008 5:33 pm ET

J.P.

You are obviously out of touch – just like your heroes in the Republican party.

I know lots of people who work very hard for a living and can't even afford to get loans for their tuition to college, so your out of date thinking that people who aren't 'rich' are people who sit around and ask for handouts.

Only an out of touch person would EVER think that the vast majority of people who are not 'rich' sit around on the couch all day. You are the type of person that got us into this mess in the first place. Get out of your house once in awhile...go to a city...look around and talk to people. Being in your office all day has obviously given you poor judgement.

ALL YOU REPUBLICANS NEED TO SHUT UP FOR A FEW MONTHS!!!!

wakeupamerica   November 10th, 2008 5:31 pm ET

Dean did a fantastic job and worked very hard. Perhaps Claire McCaskill will take over.

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   November 10th, 2008 5:29 pm ET

Dean was a non-factor in the national election because Obama already had a plan and people to carry it out! Obama also kept Jesse Jackson and Reverend Sharpton out of it, too!

Travis   November 10th, 2008 5:27 pm ET

Only Democrats who wanted Clinton are mad at Dean. In Mich and FL he played fair and didn't waiver when the Clintons threw their political power at him. He did the right thing and stuck to the rules agreed upon.

A completely separate issue is that he revolutionized the DNC. Well done Dean...I hope Obama keeps him around....

Dave in Houston   November 10th, 2008 5:25 pm ET

Great job, Dr. Dean!

The 50-state strategy was right on! We got Indiana and North Carolina because of your insistence on courting ALL Americans.

Also, your pioneering work on campaigning on the Internet laid the groundwork for Obama to take it to the next level. He added his community organizing skills to your work to make an awesome force. You are to be credited with showing us the possibility of using the web to include many more Americans in the political process.

Well done and congratulations!

Eric R. Brown   November 10th, 2008 5:24 pm ET

Howard Dean is the true architect of the Democrat victories across this country. The Democrat party under his tutelage became the party of the people again. In fact, if it weren't for the Democrats taking over their party back in 2004 after the Kerry loss and electing Dean as chair against the wishes of party power brokers, the Dems would possibly have lost the 2006 and this election too.

PELOSI SUCKS   November 10th, 2008 5:12 pm ET

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE DID TO MI AND FL

HE IS A THUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Douglas Cowing   November 10th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

Claire McCaskill! DNC Chairwomen

Houston Boy   November 10th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

I realy appreciate this man a lot.
I sure hope Obama has a place for him in his new administration.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 10th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

It was rough going for Dean and there were times we all questioned him to do more, but overall he did a good job.

Desmond Sequeira   November 10th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

Howard Dean appears to be a good, imaginative and courageous person

Chris in NC   November 10th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

Howard Dean, you were great! Thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty! GO DEMS!

Byron in Minneapolis   November 10th, 2008 5:07 pm ET

I hope that Dr. Dean gets a prominent post in the Obama administration. He is one of the best and brightest in the Democratic Party and it would be a shame to let him simply fade from the national scene.

Tim   November 10th, 2008 5:06 pm ET

Remember the scream? Beeeyyyyaaaaahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vasilios Birlidis   November 10th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

I'm glad to see him go. With the mess he made of Michigan and Florida, we're lucky we won the white house. Hopefully he can go back under the rock they found him under. While I voted and support Obama, I will never forget the treatment Clinton received at the hands of Pelosi, Reed and Dean.

Deb N Texas   November 10th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Chairman Dean is on top as the greatest to run the DNC. He did a VERY GOOD JOB!

Texas Teacher   November 10th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

Howard Dean.... thanks for a job well done! Good luck in whatever you choose to do next!

Once you vote Black   November 10th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

Poor JP, Rich and hating his country. Country first, open your purse.

Luke Brown, Charleston SC   November 10th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Howard Dean pushed for a 50-state strategy when it made little sense. He made modern campaign technology available to Democratic candidates at every level, and made sure there was enough money available to maximize its advantage on November 4th. Even though, he tends to be somewhat left of center politically, he reached out to others in the party who were more moderate or conservative.

The Florida and Michigan problems were a near-bungle, but hey the party carried Florida, Michigan ... and Ohio.

My guess is that history will mark his tenure at the DNC as critical and successful transition for the party. Thanks Dr. Dean.

Sam   November 10th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Good idea, leave with a very impressive record. You surely made your mark, what's next?

Z-Man   November 10th, 2008 4:37 pm ET

Good job Howard. Thanks for your vision and your hard work. I'm sure we'll see more of you and that's a good thing.

Clinton Supporter   November 10th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Good riddance!

M. WINNERS   November 10th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Thanks for a job well done Dr. Dean...

Glenn Doty, Columbia, SC   November 10th, 2008 4:27 pm ET

What would happen if Obama selects Dean?

Dean did an unquestionably good job as DNC chair.

For those that say "well it was Bush that did the majority of the work"... You fail to account for the dismal showing for democrats in 2004. Bush was just as worthless then as he is now, and that's the year that Abu Garaib broke and Iraq went completely to hell. That year's economy was nothing special, and that year we saw the (then) biggest deficit in history, with the cost of oil doubling – driving real wages for the American people through the floor.

It was LEADERSHIP that utterly failed the democratic party in 2004 – both in Kerry the Whimp, and McAuliffe – who believe that the job of the oposition party was to suck up to the majority party and beg for scraps.

Dean did a great job, he expanded the party, and kept the primary FAIR.

I hope he's tapped for some further use. He worked hard, and did well.

Once you vote Black   November 10th, 2008 4:25 pm ET

Hey Rush, Operation Chaos is working swimmingly. Keep it up. Go PUMA!

Patrick   November 10th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

Keep the 50 state strategy!

Dean did a great job and got us fired up when we were lost in the Bushes. Let's not leave any state behind, especially with redistricting coming up in 2010.

vw   November 10th, 2008 4:23 pm ET

You should step out just because you forced Hiullary out and make this party undemocratic

matt in indy   November 10th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

Haward Dean has a lot to do with what happened last Tuesday and should be congratulated for it. He laid the ground work in 2004.

matt in indy   November 10th, 2008 4:22 pm ET

Marc in VA-

You cannot control the will of the people, and you will be eating your words when Obama's successful. The Clintons are and always will be very poor losers. Hillary will have her chance again, just not until 2016.

WE NEED THE TRUTH   November 10th, 2008 4:21 pm ET

I really think Donna Brazile should head up the DNC...

No Hillary = No Obama   November 10th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

This guy should go back to practicing medicine. When Hillary was being maligned day and night on the airways, this jerk said nothing, did not intervene, and allowed hateful statements to continue. They same way Pelosi and Obama did.

Boye   November 10th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

Wow, bitterness never ends. "Marc in Virginia", the will of the people was on Obama's side, Hillary lost fair and square. Or are you just mad that your sabotage didn't work?

Swampy   November 10th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

Uh, Marc in Virginia, seems to me "the will of the people" spoke loudly on November 4.

Liebermyself   November 10th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

I smell open appointment for Joe Lieberman!

Truth   November 10th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

Thank you Lord!

Annie, Atlanta   November 10th, 2008 4:16 pm ET

That's a shame. He did a good job – especially that 50 state strategy.

JACKED-UP-POLITICS, FLORIDA   November 10th, 2008 4:15 pm ET

Yeah. New Leadership. Change We Can Believe In.

Susan L.   November 10th, 2008 4:14 pm ET

He will be truly missed. I hope another devotee of the 50-state strategy takes over. Dr. Dean, we Democrats owe you a tremendous amount. As a Netroots kind of person, I've been on board for some time. Thank you so much for all you've done for the Democratic Party and for Progressivism in the United States. You're the best DNC head EVER!

Yeeeaaahhhhh!!!   November 10th, 2008 4:13 pm ET

We love you Howard. We will miss you.
We owe you...BIG TIME!!

J.P.   November 10th, 2008 4:12 pm ET

Howard, you did your part to elect an out-of-the-closet socialist! Hey man, it's Miller Time! Sit back and enjoy a brewski, you've earned it!

Me, I'm going to be over here (away from my family for even MORE extended hours now) working doubletime to finance your Marxist buddy's "hope." But, don't worry about me, I'll be fine... I'm just one of those eeeeeevil "rich" people who believed "sitting on the couch" is not a viable career field so I put myself through college and worked hard, and "hi-ho-whaddaya-know" I'm doing well in life. And, right on schedule, here is your buddy to come and take it from me. I certainly HOPE I have some CHANGE left over.

Marc in Virginia   November 10th, 2008 4:12 pm ET

Good riddance! He pressured super delegates into voting for Nobama, thereby overriding the will of the people!

Wisdom   November 10th, 2008 4:11 pm ET

Good

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