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Dean on defensive about Iowa comments

In old interview, candidate said special interests dominate

Howard Dean says he would press for Iowa to be the first contest in 2008.
Howard Dean says he would press for Iowa to be the first contest in 2008.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democrat Howard Dean moved quickly to limit fallout from Thursday night's airing by NBC News of comments he made three years ago to a Canadian public affairs program in which he disparaged the Iowa caucuses.

"I have spent nearly two years here in Iowa, talking to Iowans and campaigning in all 99 counties," Dean said in a statement released late Thursday by his campaign. "I believe it's time to stand together, in common purpose, to take our country back -- and the Iowa caucus is where it all begins. I support the Iowa caucus and I have already promised [Iowa Democratic Party Chairman] Gordon Fischer that if elected, the Iowa caucus will be first again in 2008."

In the taped interview, conducted in 2000 when Dean was governor of Vermont, he said, "If you look at the caucuses system, they are dominated by special interests on both sides and both parties. Special interests don't represent the centrist tendencies of the American people. They tend to represent the extremes. ...

"Say I'm a guy who's got to work for a living, and I've got kids," he said. "On a Saturday, is it easy for me to go cast a ballot and spend 15 minutes doing it, or do I have to sit in a caucus for eight hours?

"I can't stand there and listen to everyone else's opinion for eight hours about how to fix the world," Dean added.

Dean's chief Democratic rival in Iowa, Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, called the comments "unbelievable. It would lead one to believe that he is cynically participating in these caucuses, and I can't understand his comments about the special interests dominating the Iowa caucuses."

With the caucuses less than 10 days away, the airing of the comments comes at a critical time for Dean, whose lead has eroded in recent polls in the state. Gephardt is nipping at his heels, and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts is running a close third in the state. (CNN.com's interactive Election Calendar)

Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi told CNN on Friday that the comments had not hurt the candidate's credibility in the state.

"We feel good about where we are in Iowa," he said.

Trippi said in the comments four years ago were not specifically in reference to the Iowa caucuses, but to caucuses in general.

"He was talking about caucuses versus primaries, and he also said he's since gone to Iowa and spent considerable time there and realizes now that it's a process we need to have in this country so that unknown candidates who don't have a lot of money have the opportunity to make their case," he said.

Dean's comments were broadcast originally on "The Editors," which was taped in Montreal, Quebec.

NBC News, which said it went through 90 of Dean's appearances on the show since 1996, broadcast other comments that seem at odds with Dean's current stances, including one in which he had nice things to say about President Bush, whom he now describes as the "most radical right-wing president in my lifetime."

On the Canadian program, Dean said he thought Bush was "in his soul, a moderate," and likely to win a second term.

"I think all those of us who are salivating and saying, 'Aha, this is going to be a one-term presidency,' I think that is a mistake."

The story deflects attention from Friday's arrival of former Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore in Iowa, where he is planning to stump for Dean, as Dean himself planned to campaign in New Hampshire. (Al Gore endorses Howard Dean)


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