Dean Wins A Convert

Addendum: Hotline updates this story--

A follow up meeting last week between Dean, Reid, Pelosi, and Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Rahm Emanuel was more smooth. A source familiar with the meeting said that the five agreed that the DNC would devote substantial resources to the ground game in battleground states.

Hotline on Call, the National Journal's blog, reports that Howard has won a major convert to his 50-state strategy (revealed below--hey, gotta get you to read the whole thing, don't I?).

Back in February, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urged Howard to give to the DSCC the same amount as the Republican National Committee was expected to transfer to the GOP's Senate committee. Reid's concern was that one big check from the RNC could erase the DSCC's fundraising advantage, thereby jeopardizing several critical Senate races.

According to three sources familiar with the meeting, Dean said no. Of course, he said, the DNC will spend millions on the midterms. His argument was this: While the DSCC and DCCC's role is rightfully incumbent protection, Dean, on the other hand, was elected chair to tend to overall health of the party. And that includes his responsibility to hundreds of non-federal candidates as well. His investment in state parties, Dean promised Reid and House Min. Leader Nancy Pelosi, would pay off and the benefits would accrue to Democrats at all levels.

Historically, the DNC has trailed the RNC but Howard has been able to cut into some of their lead since taking the helm of the DNC. Even though the RNC will have more money to spend, Hotline correctly notes that the DNC money is not going into a vaccuum. DNC organizers are using the money to find new voters and update voter files and prepare coordinated campaigns for 2006.

Part of the fundraising problem, both critics and supporters of Howard say, is that Howard has never been entirely comfortable soliciting donations, especially from big money donors.

And Dean, in the words of one of his friends, "never sucks up to donors" and is "clinical" when he discusses politics with them.

So to help with the effort, the DNC has hired Carl Chidlow, deputy finance director for John Kerry's campaign, and reportedly one of the best professional fundraisers in the party. Chidlow signed on after seeing how truly committed Howard is to competing everywhere. One of Chidlow's main jobs is to "evangelize" Howard's 50-state strategy to major donors.

Getting back to my lede:

And Dean has one supremely important new ally who, when he goes public, will almost certainly help with donors. In late February, Dean traveled to Harlem and sat down with former President Bill Clinton, often said to be privately disparaging of Dean.

But as Dean walked Clinton through his 50-state capacity-building project, Clinton became a convert. He vowed to help Dean win the attention of donors.

Congratulations, Howard!