Howard Dean: Obama Or Clinton Must Drop Out In June

WASHINGTON — Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Monday that either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama will know when it's time to drop out of the nomination race after the end of the primaries in early June.

"We want the voters to have their say. That's over on June 3," he said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Dean, saying he was speaking from experience as a candidate for president in 2004, said he won't have to force anyone from the race.

"Either of these candidates, if it's time for them to go, they'll know it and they will go," he said. "They don't need any pushing from me. You know when to get in and you know when to get out. That's just part of the deal."

"This is not about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama," Dean added. "This is about our country. It's about a better course for our country. ... We've got to move on and win the presidency."

Obama has more delegates and popular votes than Clinton, but she also is fresh off a big-state win in Pennsylvania.

Indiana and North Carolina hold primaries on May 6.

Dean also said that while party rules say superdelegates can wait until the August convention to make up their minds, that would be too late to unify the party and defeat the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain.

"We really can't have a divided convention. If we do it's going to be very hard to heal the party afterwards," Dean said. "So we'll know who the nominee is and that'll give us an extra 2 1/2 months to get our party together, heal the wounds of having a very closely divided race and take on Senator McCain."

Comments

[harriscrl3]

Howard Dean is such a freaking coward. The democratic party is a bunch of wussified jokes. All I know is if its Hilary and McCain come November I will not be voting for either. They are same candidate. I will vote for Nader or that Libertarian guy.

Carol

[illindependent]

Good for you

[zerocoma]

Bad for the nation.

[TocinoHumano]

For all her considerable faults and failings, I'd much rather have Hillary Clinton appoint the next Supreme Court justice than John McCain. How sad that your hatred of Clinton outweighs your concern for the rights of generations not even born yet. Maybe you'll make yourself available 15 years from now to explain to my grandniece (she'll be 21 then) why she has to accept government control over her uterus as a price for your grudge against Hillary. Stay in touch. I really want to see how you explain it.

[littlequeenie]

I had always felt that way but with all her outright LIES and the fact that she threatened to nuke Iran, I am wondering if she is any different than McCain.
I really hope I don't have to make that decision.

[buske]

Why even have a convention if the DNC mafia wants either of the candidates to drop out in June? Something fishy is going on.

[Arbos]

Because the convention is the coronation. It's free press. It's where all of the delegates come together to endorse one nominee...united.

It's not there for a blood bath and back room dealings.

[zerocoma]

Yet those options remain open.

[DannyEastVillage]

that "something fishy" has ALWAYS gone on. at the moment, the fishy smell is coming from Rahm Emmanuel, and Howard Dean and other stars of the DNC. Disgusting--but it's how things work.

[DannyEastVillage]

if what the tenor and desires of the electorate are what the election's about, then of course Barack should be the next president. But vision is NOT what the leadership of the Democratic party are about. They're every bit as invested in "business as usual" as anybody in the administration.

[Ammobob]

Some great parody of the DEMS and REPUBS problem:

4/24/2008, 12:36 AM
New Video: Hillary Wins Pennsylvania
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mc3GQmGGms

Brought to you be the bitter rednecks in TN:

http://www.redstateupdate.com/

[maryrat]

Video was funny! There was a comment that talked about a tee shirt that said "Hillary 2008---Close But No Cigar"! Hilarious!

[cubs325]

as a strong obama supporter - this is utter nonsense - no one needs to drop out - Dean should be voicing concerns over the campaign and its negativiness (ie bad for the party)- he should be supporting the DNC rules and methods which in this case dictate that the SDs will end of making the decision - he should be encouraging them to do what they think is right - Dean should be a leader not a cheerleader

[Pepper14]

Who listens to Dean? As usual the dems always lay down rules then turn around and change them. If Obama is ahead in June he should get the nomination and should not back down and let them give it to Hillary. All these bogus stories that she can win and he can't is silly. Dems will back him if he gets the nomination regardless of what they say in polls.

[DannyEastVillage]

he IS a leader--of the established powers in the DNC.

[BigFootJesus]

How about McCain dropping out and we can decide between HC and BO?

[Kalima]

That's easier said than done.

[KerkorianKnot]

Rule are flexible when they favor Obama and ironclad when they go against Hillary. Nice work, screamer. You should drop out in June.

[KMan1]

All that would be left after the last primary in June is for the superdelegates to make their decision. Surely by then they would know who they want to represent the party. There is no reason what so ever for this to go beyond June. Why do you have a problem with this?

[KMan1]

That means you HRC.

[Sparklez]

He is a mess

Someone must drop out

He might as well said Hillary, because the frontrunner is NOT going to drop out i can guarantee you that

[tiredoflies]

Let's see how much damage Rev. Wright has done after his mini speaking tour.

[scrutiny1]

That someone is Hillary and it will be good riddance to her gutter level campaign.

[jsomerville5]

Someone should drop out on May 7, after Obama wins North Carolina.

[Kasandra]

Why the hell should he give supers till the end of June? Give em to June 5th at most! Frankly, they should be willing to move within two weeks of now.

Here's my rallying call. No more money for either candidate or the DNC till they end this.

[CaptainHowdy]

Errr... someone needs to drop out after the primaries are over?

LOL!!!

That's just plain rich!!!

[HumeSkeptic]

Ever heard of super-delegates?

[faretheewell]

Let the SDs over-ride the votes of the people and watch the exodus. Hillary might end up third.

[ylpatriot]

UHhh , Howard Dean how about YOU and Nancy take a powder... you both have certainly not contributed much to the Demo Party of late and the advancement and progress needed in our US States... get it ?

[DannyEastVillage]

no, they DON'T get it. Their game has nothing to do with the desires of the electorate or we'd be in impeachment hearings by now. Dean, Pelosi, Emmanuel are interested in THEIR POWER GAME. No more--and no less.

[billu]

Does the democratic party have rules for nominating a candidate or do they just make it up as they go along?

[rjean]

it is pretty obvious they make this crap up as they go along....howie should have dropped out a long time ago...but what do i care.........let operation chaos reign..................

[HumeSkeptic]

Sure they have rules. The rules are that whoever has more delegates (unpledged plus pledged) wins. Simple.

[gomonkeygo]

Well, according to Hillary, it's "Clinton Rules" - ie, whatever's best for the Clinton's when they need it. Everything else is just words on paper, evidently.

[DannyEastVillage]

no. they don't make it up as they go along: it was made up a long time ago.