Dean Statement on Primary Results
June 14, 2006
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement in response to yesterday's primary elections in Virginia, Maine and South Carolina:
"Yesterday, in primary elections across the country, Americans showed that they are excited and hungry for change. While Bush Republicans continue to offer more of the same failed policies and misplaced priorities, Democratic candidates around the country are offering strong leadership and real reforms that will put the government back to work for working families, instead of the special interests.
"This includes strong Democratic leaders like James Webb in Virginia, who stands poised to take on Senator George Allen. In Webb, a Vietnam veteran with considerable foreign policy experience, Virginians have a strong alternative who will put Virginia's working families first. For the last five years, Senator George Allen has split his time between rubberstamping the Bush Administration's failed policies and running off to New Hampshire and Iowa to advance his own political ambitions. While George Allen is campaigning for votes in Iowa this weekend, James Webb will be talking to voters about why he is the best candidate to represent Virginia's values in Congress.
"In South Carolina, for the first time in years, Democrats have nominated formidable challengers in every Republican-held House District to challenge so-called 'safe' Republican seats. And, with Sen. Thomas Moore, South Carolinians have a strong leader who will end the incompetent leadership of Gov. Mark Sanford which has done nothing to create jobs and continues to put special interests above the interests of South Carolinians.
"By reaffirming the leadership of Governor Baldacci, Maine democrats showed that the voters value strong leaders who stand up for working families by working on crucial issues like making health care more affordable and accessible throughout the state.
"These candidates and other strong Democratic leaders up and down the ticket showed exactly what our party is going to do to stand up and win in November. We're going to offer the American people real change, not take a single vote for granted, and rebuild the sense of community in America again. Together, America can do better."
