Howard Dean might have been ahead of his time when he ran for president in 2004. He sought to stake a claim to voters opposed to the war in Iraq. Along the way, the former managed to grow a grass-roots organization that used the Internet to raise funds and organize.

Jason Rosenbaum photo

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, addresses a student crowd yesterday morning at Stankowski Field at the University of Missouri.

Dean’s campaign imploded at the Iowa caucuses, and he eventually lost the Democratic primary to John Kerry. But Dean’s opposition to the Iraq war and his grass-roots Internet organization became hallmarks of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Soon after the 2004 election, Dean was picked as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Dean spoke to a crowd yesterday morning on the University of Missouri’s Stankowski Field about mobilizing for the fall election. He also spoke with reporters about registering new voters, Sen. John McCain’s running mate and Obama’s strength among members of the military.

Meanwhile, Republican National Committee spokesman Chris Taylor said GOP door-to-door workers were registering new voters as they canvass. He said McCain’s running mate choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had brought in a flood of volunteers to offices across the country. "She’s turning out volunteers and turning up the excitement level for all of us," he said.

College students typically don’t vote. How important is it to get out the college vote?

Well, they have voted in this particular election during the primary season. And we think this is a generation that in this election they have a candidate of the future in Barack and a candidate of the past in John McCain - very much like the 1960 election. So I do think they will get out and vote, and it’s critical that they do. We can’t win this election without a big turnout among young people.

Among other things, some Democrats are criticizing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s experience of governing a sparsely populated state as inadequate preparation for being vice president. When you were running for president in 2004, did you hear any criticism that being governor of Vermont didn’t prepare you for being chief executive of the country?

I did not because I had been chairman of the National Governors Association and I had been to more than 60 countries. So I did not get that kind of flak.

What is your take on Palin being chosen as McCain’s vice presidential pick?

I think she’s a divisive person.

When you said actual troops themselves are heavily in favor of Obama, how do you reach that conclusion?

I don’t think there have been many polls of the troops, but their donations are 6-to-1 in favor of Obama. And I think that’s because the Bush-McCain view of the military is treat them great when they’re over there and then forget about them when they come home. … And I think honestly, the Republicans don’t understand how to run the Army. They have to support the Army when they’re at home, not just when they’re abroad.

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