My overall impression of the 7 candidates for chair was that there is a lot of potential and reason for hope.  I didn't feel I got to know any of them in great depth, but sensed all had their heads and their hearts in the right direction.  They were different men- do not get me wrong- but they all seemed truly love and respect the values of this country and of the Democratic Party.  

There seemed to be genuine appreciation of this process and a healthy respect for each other's accomplishments.  All said if they were not elected, they would continue to work in support of the party and specified how.  

Below is the candidate I would most support based on yesterday and a very detailed account of the opening statements.

If I had a vote, I would be hard pressed to decide as they had different strengths (and weaknesses).  My instinct is that I would give my vote to Simon Rosenberg.  While young and from my liberal (and fabulous) state of NY, he had a clear plan and agenda for how to move the party forward involving finances and think tanks and grassroots campaigning.  He was eloquent and well-spoken and the only candidate that insisted on personally shaking hands with everyone in the audience.  I know that Driving Votes was there in support of Dean and have read the other blogs supporting him.  I thought Dean was impressive and could do the job, but it is my opinion, that Rosenberg comes with less baggage.  He has a passion, an eloquence, and a dedication.  I felt Rosenberg would treat the DNC as a multi-faceted corporation and given the state of the party, his leadership goals spoke the most directly to me.  

Below are highlights from the 5-minute opening statements made by each candidate. (forgive the errors/typos, I was typing quickly):

Martin Frost - Former congressman in Texas
·    Inspired by civil rights movement
·    After law school clerked for author of decision in Roe-Vs-Wade
·    Supporter of Labor rights
·    Wife is highest ranking general in army (can combat terrorism)
·    If we can convince public that we are strong on terrorism, we can get them to vote for us based on policies we agree on - education, health care, etc.
·    Chair in 1996 & 1998 of DNC election campaign
·    In Texas - focus on getting out the vote in white rural communities, minorities
·    Focus on grassroots politics
·    The chair has to run a $300 million enterprise, be the spokesman for party, represent grassroots and represent nation, revenue sharing among states

Wellington Webb - African American Mayor of Denver
·    Give the DNC members an active role - with an agenda (know the goals and plans of the party)
·    Need a 50 state plan - not just a blue state plan
·    Get local people in red states involved (as opposed to importing from others)
·    Does not want to reorder Iowa and New Hampshire primaries
·    Has run a billion dollar organization - meets criteria (only he and Howard Dean have done that)
·    Precinct director
·    Work with governors
·    Understand that minorities and democrats voted republican.  Need to stabilize base first.
·    In closing: Willing to fight on issues.  Reaffirm Roe, call George Bush what he is

Howard Dean - Governor of Vermont
·    Give DNC members an active role (as Wellington)
·    Give the states the ability to run a 50-state campaign: wants to add 5 DNC reps to payroll of each state - 5 best E.D.s of each state
·    Wants a 4-year campaign - not an 8-month campaign
·    Target Elections of Secretaries of State
·    We are not going to win presidency if we cannot win at local level
·    Was chairman of Democratic Governors (in 2002 and there were many governors of red-states)
·    Bring new, young people and energy to the party and keep them in the party as they grow older
·    In closing: "If you want to win elections, what we have talked about is necessary but not sufficient.   We were good, they were better." An Evangelical said, "Evangelical Christians have a deep conviction and you are a man of deep conviction.  We cannot be `republican light' and win elections.  We need to be people of conviction."

Simon Rosenberg - New York fundraiser
·    "Sick and tired of being sick and tired"
·    "need a new day as democrats"
·    Republicans have more power now than they had in 70 years.  Match them in the battle of ideas
·    Fix the party and lead the country in the right direction
·    Have a better argument and sense of where we are going
·    We are on the right side of history.  Democratic is a word that has to work in all 50 states.  Match the think tanks, $, state and local parties.
·    New commitment to grassroots - build politics around grassroots campaign.  
·    Raised tens of millions of dollars for Democrats around the country (including Alaska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Alabama)
·    "Hit the ground running" - not about him - but about the people in office
·    "Build a national coalition that can fight and win"
·    "These aren't words they are deeds"
·    In closing: Bring party together and fight with the new tools, nurture grassroots, proven history win in red states.  "America is counting on us.  This is a big choice - let's do it wisely."

Donny Fowler, Jr. - Southern grassroot worker for 20 years in 14 states
·    They have asked us to concede the south and the west, the rural voters, etc. DC doesn't get it anymore.  DNC has been turned into "Does not change" whereas it should be "Do not concede"
·    Respect most loyal voters, Democrats, African Americans, Pro-Choice, Homosexuals - but we have to recognize that we are not solid with Latinos, working class, etc.  Republicans do not concede.  Are they satisfied with a majority of Governors?  With 5-4 in Supreme Court.  They are running a permanent campaign to put us out of business.  
·    We need to talk about hearts before minds, talk about values, talk about our soul
·    Bring everyone to the decision making table
·    Local people need to take control of local issues
·    In closing: the Choice today: "Change versus more of the same.""I've still got dirt under my fingernails from working in the grassroots so long."

Tim Roemer - red stater who never lost to a Republican
·    9/11 commission member
·    "A fighter"
·    Told a story of a 9/11 widow who gave him her wedding ring.  It was found with  on my husband's finger 6 weeks after 9/11 - very emotional story that made me cry
·    He fought for the commission, fought to get Bush to sit down and listen to commission
·    Can mobilize base and bring in new voters with our values - by building state parties by doing 5 things: 1. giving them money, 2. going door-to-door - getting the neighbors to knock on each other's doors
·    Make the entire map bluer - this can't be done out of Washington
·    Abortion: He is anti-choice.  He said we are the inclusive party, and should include all values.  In Clinton years, abortion was down by 11%.
·    In Closing: He spoke about jobs, Iraq, terrorism, social security

David Leland - Former Ohio Chair for 7 years 1995 onwards, served in House of Reps, War Committeeman, experience from when he was 18
·    Build a party, not just run campaigns
·    Ran Project Vote - registered 1.1 million new voters
·    Won Ohio for Clinton
·    Every major city in Ohio had a democratic major when he left office
·    He wants to be the "Joe Torre of the party" - not the Randy Johnson of the party. He wants to be a good manager - not a star player
·    $, organize, 365 days a year and seize the energy that is out there, grow candidates, and have the operation to win elections consistently
·    DNC Chair: Help, Assistance, and Empowerment
·    In Closing: "America is the land we love today because of Democratic Party.... That is the legacy we carry.  We also carry the hopes of millions of Americans who are voiceless without us." - this speech had the crowd screaming for him to run for President