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

[Clem2]

Totally agree with Dean.

I am sick of the whole thing and I bet a lot of people are.

The winner in PA was McCain.

[NochlessMonster]

Have to agree with you there.... McCain is doing nothing less then sitting back, enjoying life, all the while giggling to himself about the Democrats doing his job for him...

[nellie]

Wait until the general. He won't be grinning any more.

[abouttime]

McCain got 72% of Republican vote in PA. Hardly a mandate!

[nellie]

Isn't that amazing. He's already the republican nominee, and 30 percent of Pennsylvanians voted for someone else.

[jkornas]

I suppose there are people who wish the whole thing was done and over with. Then there are others like myself who are enjoying this campaign. I hope McCain was the winner in the Republican party. After all he didn't have any opposition did he?

[BatedBreath]

Howard Dean for President!

[BDunne]

why -- its not like people respect him. He can't even get his own party to unite. Why give him the freakin whole country?

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of this shit! Tell Hillary to drop out. She's the problem.

[ndnndpendent]

Why does it have to be Obama or Clinton to drop out.........why would Dean ask the frontrunner to drop out.......why didn't he defend the DNC position to throw out FL and MI---I say split the delegates in each state by end of primary season and let this all end on June 3rd. After that, let the winner advance to the convention....with the superdels having to acknowledge the will of the people.

[jkornas]

Why blame Hillary? Why not tell Obama to get out? See not so nice huh? I think everyone has the right to run for office. Let them be.

[ntmessage]

Dean is the biggest loser in the planet. He created this mess and now wants to blame it on some one else.

[bygollymissmolly]

So tell us, how did Dean create this mess? Did he create it by following the rules that are set by the DNC? Oh, I get it. You think he should have let those rules slide once Hillary decided she didn't like them. You do remember that Hillary agreed that FL and MI wouldn't count and didn't start complaining until she started losing. So is that when Dean should have thrown out the rules and let Hillary have what she wanted?

[StephenJK]

his wisdomless haste to cast aside FL and MI when that whole thing initially happened shows just how powerful he thinks the DNC and himself to be. Not a good thing.

[jkornas]

Please! He couldn't accomplish ithe task either time he ran previously. Do you really think he could now? And would you really want Howard Dean as your commander and chief?

[abouttime]

"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. The delegates "will do that (announce) by the end of June and we'll know who our nominee is and that's what we need to do."

My take is that Dean is panicking. His concerns about a divided party come the August Democratic National Convention in Denver will not be alleviated by delegate announcements in June about who they pledge to nominate as the party's representative as president in August.

If you prepare for something to happen, odds are increased that it will happen. It’s human nature.
Look, delegates are elected and represent a single vote at the National Convention. While they are pledged to vote for a specific candidate, that reserve their inalienable right of free will to vote their conscience. Superdelegates were “selected” by the party based on their previous qualifications as government official, not by a peoples caucus or popular election. They are not “elected” by the party and have no obligation to voters.
Who the party nominee is depends on how they vote in August -period.
Any attempt to rush the established order to clarify the winner through pledges by June is in itself a miscarriage of Justice.
The Democratic Party must not panic. Fear of losing or being divided is nonsense, and this rush by party leaders is unwise.
Obama and his supporters can unify between August and November.

[McFlipFlop1]

Sorry, I don't think 9 weeks is enough time to campaign against McCain. Many other agree with me.

[Johnjlws]

What happens after June 3? I know that more people will have voted, but the vote is going to be essentially split and the delegates will be essentially split. Barack will be closer to the nomination and Hillary will be a little further back.

Barack will have won by every measure except Clinton's "he can't win big states," so for him to drop out would be like a football team with the ball, second down and a 9 point lead and 90 seconds left in the game walking off the field. Hillary won't quit because this gesture would take a stateswoman and not a politician and God lover her, but she's the consummate politician.

What the Democratic party has been lacking for years is leadership; Dean's statement isn't leadership--it's abdication of his responsibility to bring this thing to an end. I don't see how June 3 makes this any different than today.

[juangault]

Dean IS abdicating. Hillary's and McCain's time is over. Obama's time may not be here yet. Strange situation we find ourselves in. Bush the bankrupter is doing everything he can in the meantime. The election in November may be back page news, if oil is $200 and rationing is happening with everything. Maybe if Hillary does go 3rd party, and no electoral college majority emerges, the supreme court may play "superdelegate" and revisit the 22nd amendment. Then will the military go at it 3 ways to settle it? Who will take the keys to the white house from Hillary's tight fist? The one who might appease everyone is Gore, just for four.

[souris]

.........the only ones wanting this dog and pony show to go forward are the MSM to fill their 24/7 news cycles, and Hillary, who can only think of her selfish power-hungry agenda. The end of June is MUCH, MUCH TOO LATE. This divisive L-O-N-G drawn out fiasco was over at least a month ago, and the only thing now that the blood bath, being served up by the Billary camp, is doing is demeaning Obama while destroying the Party!!! Can you say, "the woman scorned"?............yeah, I knew you could.......

[HWNA]

While I find your "woman scorned" comment distasteful, I do agree that this race is already over. It would be a different thing altogether if she and Obama were trading differences in policy positions, but you have her running Republican-style ads against him which is doing nothing but weakening his standing even among Democrats.

This should have been over long ago and the Clintons should have NEVER thrown the "kitchen sink" strategy at another Democrat, especially in this crucial election.

[genia]

Ohhhh...these ass clowns think this is cool....good for the party........the democrats in the news 24/7...the stars. Look how popular we are...look how many of us are voting....Look everybody, I'm on Meet The Press again.....
Idiots.
Dean now claims that the loser will have to campaign for the winner.....this...will insure unity...in Novemebr.....LOL
HAHAHA.
I don't care......IF.... In support of Hillary ...Barack Obama came on stage and french kissed her......
.....I AIN'T VOTING FOR HER !!!!!!!!

[hopefulintexas]

I have to agree with you. If Hillary gets the nomination, my disappointment and DISGUST will know no end.

[MidwestMomma]

I'm with you! My vote will be for Barack Obama even if it's a write in and I will campaign for others to join me. I will continue to support all the other Democratic candiates with my money and my time. But I will not support the type of politics Hillary Hillary plays any longer. The only way for gutter politics to stop is for it not to work!

[TERRYKEITH4]

The republicans are not all that tight and chummy about this either. The only one I see supporting McCain is Huckabee. Mitt Romney came out a little at first until he realised that McCain was not going to have him as a running mate. And Bush reluctantly endorsed him after recovering from a drunk binge.

[Crozier]

Words cannot express my anger at the Corporate Fascist MSM. They are so energized to destroy Senator Obama. Their Corporate Fascist Parent Companies have sent out the message. Any way and in every way, edit the news, mold the spin, and turn his friends and former pastors into caricatures of their true selves. Return this presidential campaign to a choice between either the NEOCON OR DLC puppets, Hillary Clinton or John McCain. If you cannot, then do all you can to have John McInsane win.

I watch KO and only he. I have added CNN, CBS, ABC to the banned like FOX,. I would also ban MSNBC but I need KO ONLY.

THE GAMING OF CLINTON'S CHANCES, THE LIES, THE SPIN........I JUST GET SO ANGRY THAT I SHUT OFF THE INSTRUMENT AND READ THE NATION.

[speakingtruth2power]

The Comedy Channel is still a good news source.

[NochlessMonster]

Slightly funny, slightly sad..... and unfortunately true....

[nellie]

Isn't it interesting that the press "changes" its view of Obama, and then the big story becomes that the press has changed its view of Obama.

Journalists are becoming just like political appointees. It's all a game, nothing really affects anyone, nothing really matters as long as they're comfortable, and the only things they'll fight for are their own comfort and an invitation to the next cocktail party. I'm with you. It's utterly contemptible.

[neocon43]

Take your fanatic goggles off so you can see clearly.

[TERRYKEITH4]

Don't be angry. Think. Why does the media want to destroy Barrack Obama? Because he is a person that we take serious. Unlike Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton he has a very real chance of becoming our next president. And they are afraid of that. They keep spinning that Rev. Wright video, but it's not working. It really backfired on them. The only people still spinning that is the media, and dum 'Liz Hasselback. They couldn't even get Anne Coulter in on it. Now, if Obama supporters start boycotting products of the sponsors of these television stations who are still spinning that Rev. Wright thing, or even if a rumor of boycotting the sponsors was started you can trust that the media assassination would at least slow down. Remember how the sponsorsbailed out on Don Imus with lightning speed quickness, and Dog the bounty hunter? The networks can not stand to lose one sponsor, period.

[IntelligentDesign]

Hillary had an opportunity to exit with grace and dignity, but she chose to scratch and claw like a drowning cat; that window is now closed shut - the best she can do is to be told in terms certain to please leave or be thrown out - the good news is that we have learned that she consistently exercises poor judgment and would have been a disaster as POTUS - what an utterly disgraceful display.

[jitterbug]

If a Presidential candidate threatens to obliterate another country, that person should not be allowed anywhere near the White House. Where is the MSM on this? If Obama had said that, it would be 24 hr news. Maybe KO will mention it.

[OrionGal]

Yep, our ignoramus Media is pretty much enabling Hillary to do and say whatever she wants!

To tell you the truth, I'm more upset with CNN about NOT reporting on Hillary's comment.

[YankeeCanuck]

While I'm disappointed in HRC's tactics, she has the right to remain until the votes are counted and there is a clear decision. It's a close race and although it looks like Obama will win it, there is a process.

[monty]

Congratulations, Hillary, you are going to be McCain's V.P.!!!!

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

No, Lieberman's got that locked up! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/m.s.-bellows/the-new-zell-miller-the-d_b_97791.html

[NochlessMonster]

Someone wake me when they decide the nominee..... this has already gone on to long, and now I am starting to care less and less who the nominee actually is....

[ghostofgrrrl]

I think we all are
and that's the dangerous part
you know what they say about Idle Minds
or is it Idol Minds? ;)

[MaureenSharkey]

Dean should encourage Obama and Hillary to start campaigning against McCain NOW!

[DoubleAbsolut]

Obama has already been campaigning against McCain for the last few weeks.

[ObamaEdwards]

This is exactly the kind of squeaky clean good boy approach that Al Gore took in 2000 and John Kerry took in 2004. If this is the party's attitude, we are going to LOSE this election. Hillary Clinton is running one of the most embarrassing campaigns I have seen since McGovern gave in to media and dumped Tom Eagleton from his ticket. Clinton is damaging all of us, and breaking the party, in order to serve her own ego. And Dean is letting her do it. I hope he is prepared to see all of us pop the balloons, pack up the buttons, and go home--if Clinton takes her BS to the convention. Because Obama is the person who says he will support the party no matter what. I have not made that pledge. I don't owe the party. After 30 years of loyalty the party owes ME. The party owes me Barack Obama, and I will have him as president, or I will fan the flames as this party goes straight to hell. Time is UP, Democratic Party. Gimme Obama, or don't count on my vote. I am not going to make nice any more.

[willowbarcelona]

Senator Clinton's campaign, since the sound bites of her five-personalities in one weekend, also is damaging women in the workplace. At this New England workplace, women "of a certain age" are concerned that her behavior will become a generalized attitude toward all career women of her era. We have spent decades not only establishing our legitimacy in our careers, but also in treating others as equitably and fairly as we wish to be treated. And younger women are simply baffled at how she can think she can demonize a multi-racial candidate when, to their generation a mix of races and ethnic backgrounds in their friendships is the norm.

Senator Clinton is stepping on older white woman, particulary working women, to get to her goal. She will find, if she is the candidate, that in the general election, she will lose a large percentage of us, who she claims now, to her opponent.

Sadly, to paraphrase, "Senator Clinton, you are no Eleanor Roosevelt." And former President Clinton is no Franklin.

[abouttime]

Regardless, the spectacle of a divided convention will bolster the democratic process. It will provoke debate essential to change. It is a process that will clarify what the democrats stand for. They may even debate the platform and vote on it. (Something missing in the past). Conventions have become stale and programed - like commercial. Let us return to the reality that Conventions are where decisions are made - not dictated by party cabals.

[TERRYKEITH4]

Debates are just a bunch of mudslining and lies.

[Trittydi]

I don't think I can take another month of this garbage.

Dean - don't you think the GOP knows that the longer this goes one - the more likely it is that one or the other of them will say something irretrievably stupid that will hurt them in the general? Along the lines for instance, of - say . . . obliterating Iran?
*

[McFlipFlop1]

Howard Dean is doing what the head of the DNC should -- ensure that Democrats win.

The primaries are over in 36 days, after June 3rd. At that time, the Superdelegates should make their decision. Then the party can come together and campaign against McCain to win this election in November.

Waiting until the convention is too late. It only gives us 9 weeks for the party to come together and campaign against McCain.

This is all rational, and the right approach for Dean.

Furthermore, to all the posters that are blaming Dean for MI and FL, please be advised that the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee made that decision. Dean is not on that committee. However, Harold Ickes, Hillar's campaign strategist, was on the committee when it made the decision.

[DoubleAbsolut]

For neocon43, who posted that Obama has not won a primary since February 22nd.

Obama won Mississippi

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY March 11, 2008
Open primary: 40 total delegates*

Obama 61%
Clinton 37%

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#MS

[rocketJsquirrel]

guess that's one of those states that don't count.

[DoubleAbsolut]

Just another neoknot falsehood.