Howard Dean May Be Out at DNC Job

We keep hearing chatter from Democratic circles in Washington that Howard Dean's days are numbered as head of the Democratic National Committee.

Dean's pitiful performance on Tim Russert's show in May did little to help his crumbling position.

But the key reason Dean won't last another year at the DNC is money.

New figures reveal that Dean has done a woeful job of raising money for the party since he became party chief.

After essentially matching the Republicans in fund-raising in 2004, the Democratic National Committee raised $14.1 million in the first quarter of 2005, while the Republicans raised $32.3 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Dean attracted about 20,000 new donors, but the Republican National Committee picked up 68,200.

And much of the new Dean money, Washington insiders say, came from John Kerry's backing after Dean took the DNC position. Kerry sent out an email urging his email supporters to give to the DNC.

The majority Republican party now has $26.2 million in the bank, compared to just $7.2 million for the Democrats.

"Given Dean's 2004 run as a populist crusader, moderates were never wild about his takeover of the Democratic National Committee. So some big donors are sitting on their wallets," Business Week reports.

Dean appears intent on raising money through small-time contributors and has made little effort to reach out to major corporate donors, according to insiders.

"Howard Dean is the wrong person to be chair," declared real estate developer William W. Batoff, a longtime Democratic fund-raiser, who says he will boycott the DNC as long as Dean is in charge - which given his fund-raising troubles, might not be as long as he'd hope.

Another problem for Dean is the Clintons. They control the Democrat money machine - and they absolutely despise Dean.

Hillary has reshaped her image to a party moderate, and Dean appeals to the ultra-left.

Dean has become a key member of the Gang of Four - the leading Democrats who want to stop Hillary's 2008 presidential bid. The three other members of the Gang are Al Gore, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy.