Howard Dean 2016: Former Vermont Governor Is Considering 2016 Run

Impact

Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont, presidential nominee, and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Thursday that he would consider another run for the White House if he was unsatisfied with the candidates for 2016.

Dean, who began his first campaign 10 years ago this weekend, said he has "mixed feelings" about running for office again, but would consider it if no other candidates are adequately addressing progressive issues.

"I am not driven by my own ambition," Dean told CNN. "What I am driven by is pushing the country in a direction that it desperately needs to be pushed; pushing other politicians who aren't quite as frank as I am who need to be more candid with the American people about what needs to happen. I am not trying to hedge, it's a hard job running. It's really tough. I am doing a lot of things I really enjoy. But you should never say never in this business."

In 2004 Dean ran for president in a campaign jump-started by his use of the internet to raise money and recruit volunteers, the first campaign to use the web to amass support.

“The internet community is wondering what its place in the world of politics is," Dean said. "Along comes this campaign to take back the country for ordinary human beings, and the best way you can do that is through the Net. We listen. We pay attention. If I give a speech and the blog people don't like it, next time I change the speech." 

Little did he know that the Internet would also bring his campaign to a sudden halt with the trademark Dean Scream: