Dean It Is

The CS Monitor is confident enough in the outcome of this weekend's vote for Democratic party chairman that it is calling Howard Dean the winner. The contest for that position has been a microcosm of the party's soul-searching. By picking Dean, they are sending the message that they have no intention of seeking the center, and are happy to make their main plank the fact that they are the only major party that is not led by George W. Bush. In other words, "Vote for us, we're not Dubya."

Sounds negative? It is. But before you throw out all the negative superlatives about how defeatist or self-hating the Democrats are, rememember that the strategy works. Most recently, we saw it in the latter days of the Clinton administration. We didn't know who Bush was, but we knew he wasn't part of the Clinton team, and that was enough. Gore couldn't cash in on Clinton's popularity with centrist voters, but was held accountable for Clinton's lapses.

After eight years of Bush, a lot of centrists will be ready for a change. And the Democrats are exactly right to position themselves where they can pick up all those votes in 2008. If they played the center, Republicans might be able to keep office by running someone not from Bush's camp. By playing hardball, the Dems are forcing the GOP to circle wagons (or break into desultory factions), and pinning Republicans to the Bush agenda whether they like it or not. In 2008, we'll see if the strategy pays off.