Ickes, Kirk Pull Out of DNC Chair Race

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - Former Clinton aide Harold Ickes and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk let top Democrats know Tuesday that they won't be running for chairman of the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites).

Kirk, who made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 2002, wrote a letter to DNC members Tuesday saying he would not run but was endorsing fellow Texan Martin Frost, a former congressman.

"Martin is ... a winning strategist, innovative grass-roots organizer and tough, disciplined spokesperson," Kirk said in his letter.

Ickes, a longtime Democratic activist, also let party members know he would not be running.

"I just decided I probably did not have enough of the attributes (a chairman needs) to do the party justice," Ickes said in an interview.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050105/ap_on_el_ge/democrats_chair

[48pan]

1. Yes! Dean is one step closer.

Dean is the right man for this time.

[Borgnine]

2. Go Dean!

If Dean doesn't get the chair, the disillusionment that began for me with Kerry's defeat will be complete.

[DaveinMD]

3. I liked Kirk

I just hope whoever gets the job does party building, not just fundraising.