Dean's New Campaign; Recruiting Neophytes To Liven Up The Party

[Rose Siding]

Ever since John Kerry claimed the nomination in March, most of the Democratic presidential hopefuls have quietly gone back to their day jobs. Not Howard Dean. Although no longer in pursuit of elective office, Dean's still on the road five or six days a week vigorously promoting Democracy for America (DFA), the political action committee he built with the raw materials left from his presidential bid. Its impact is already being felt in Democratic political circles across the country—and here on Long Island.

"I think Democracy for America is a significant movement," says Marsha Laufer, who chairs the Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee. "Dean's ability to attract young people to his campaign, people who had never been politically active before, and his use of technology—all of this was very impressive in 2003. I think he can continue to attract people into the political process."
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Although it was Dean's strong opposition to the war in Iraq that initially got folk's attention, as Democrats got to know his record, the more they found to like—from his positions on health care and civil unions to his goal for a balanced budget. By the end of his presidential campaign, it was clear that the former governor of Vermont had won the respect of the rank and file. Dean got nearly 1,450 votes in the primary from Long Island supporters, even after dropping out of the race.

"It was the message of grassroots empowerment more than anything else," Tracey Denton, from Democracy for New York City, says, explaining Dean's amazing popularity. "The message struck home that you could be useful in some way other than writing a check."

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