Dean draws crowd, hits GOP

LACEY, Thurston County — Washington Democrats greeted Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean on Monday night as if it were early 2004, when his presidential campaign was igniting liberals in the party.

A record crowd of more than 1,200 Democrats packed the party's annual crab-feed fundraiser and gave Dean a series of standing ovations, screaming their support for his condemnation of Republicans.

Dean indulged himself in a little nostalgia.

"If only we started out in Washington state and not Iowa," he said about the race for the nomination he lost to U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

Since becoming chairman of the party, Dean has said he won't run for president in 2008. Instead, he says he's working to broaden the party's support in the country. In 2004 the party had presidential-campaign operations in only 20 states, he said, and Democrats can't be a national party without a 50-state strategy.

He cited recent Democratic wins in statewide and local races in solid Republican states as a sign the party can win converts.

"If we can win in Mississippi, if we can win in Alabama, if we can win in Utah, Democrats can win everywhere in America," he said.

Dean is the former governor of Vermont. He ran an insurgent presidential campaign in 2004, setting records for raising money online and exciting large crowds across the country. But he did poorly in the primaries and caucuses and eventually dropped out when Kerry appeared to secure the nomination.

Dean found early support for his campaign in Washington state. The state party chairman at the time, Paul Berendt, was the first state chairman to endorse Dean.

Dean gave Monday's crowd an updated version of his stump speech. On the question of budget deficits Dean said, "You can't trust Republicans with your money."

Dean said recently that America can't win the war in Iraq. He was an early and ardent opponent of the war, but Monday night he kept his comments in line with the Democratic mainstream, saying President Bush and Republicans have not told the truth about the reasons for the war.

"They have not told the truth, and it is time for them to go," Dean said.

In the past, the most Democrats have raised at their annual event at St. Martin's University was $43,000. State party Chairman Dwight Pelz said this year's event raised at least $70,000.

There were distinct state and national views of the party on view.

"The Democratic Party rules Washington state," Pelz said in warming up the crowd. The party holds the governor's office, most of the statewide offices, a majority of the state House and Senate, a majority of the U.S. House delegation and both U.S. Senate seats.

But U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, reminded Democrats that Republicans control Washington, D.C.

"We are living under the hand of George Bush and his junta," he said to great applause.

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com