Dean's bid for White House alarms Blair allies (Guardian) [View All]

[dajabr]

Alliance could be strained by anti-war stance

Patrick Wintour
Tuesday January 13, 2004
The Guardian

New Labour allies of Tony Blair are becoming alarmed at the prospect of a Howard Dean US presidential candidacy, fearing it will create formidable tensions in the traditional transatlantic Democrat-Labour alliance.

Amid concerns that a Dean presidential campaign would be dominated by attacks on the Bush-Blair invasion of Iraq, one ally of the prime minister has suggested that he would prefer anyone but Mr Dean as president, although in public Mr Blair will be careful to ensure Labour and Downing Street are seen as neutral in the Democrat race.

Downing Street's leading advisers have long-standing links with Clintonite Democrats on the Democratic leadership council (DLC).

More: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1121815,00.html