Senate Democrats rally around embattled Dean

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats staged a public display of support yesterday for the Democratic National Committee chairman, Howard Dean, vowing to stay united in pushing the party's agenda in the GOP-controlled Congress.

With Dean under fire for a series of controversial characterizations of Republicans, Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader, said Dean had simply misspoken, though Dean himself brushed aside that characterization.

''As all of you know, that there isn't a single person, whether it's any of us in this room or Governor Dean or [Republican National Committee chairman Ken] Mehlman, that haven't misspoken," Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said at a news conference at the Capitol, with Dean at his side. ''We're here today to talk about the American people. We're talking about common-sense reform for issues that they care about."

When Dean was asked a few moments later whether he had indeed misspoken, he declined to answer directly. He instead blamed Republicans for seeking to divert attention from their shortcomings and blamed the press for engaging in a ''media circus."

''I think a lot of this is exactly what the Republicans want, and that's a diversion," Dean said. ''All this other stuff is all fine and good, and we understand how exciting it all is to you [in the media]. We're excited about doing something for the American people."

In recent weeks, Dean has said many Republicans ''have never made an honest living in their lives," called the GOP ''pretty much a white, Christian party," and said that House majority leader Tom DeLay ''ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence." DeLay is facing ethics questions but has not been charged with any crime.

Dean's comments have drawn public rebukes from other prominent Democrats, including potential 2008 presidential contenders. When compounded with lagging fund-raising under Dean's leadership, the controversial comments have contributed to an image of disarray within the Democratic Party. That was one reason Senate Democrats staged the public event after their private meeting with Dean, with the party chairman appearing alongside Reid and his top deputy, Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois.

Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, said yesterday that she is trying to arrange a time for Dean to address Democratic House members in the near future. She said it is important for party leaders to strategize privately on how best to present their message. ''I don't associate myself with his comments," said Pelosi, Democrat of California. ''[But] if Governor Dean were not being effective, they would not be going after him so strongly. . . . Any one of us, at any given time, may say something that might not be acceptable to another part of the party."

One of the Democrats who has been critical of Dean, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., yesterday reiterated his belief that Dean's comments have been inaccurate and unhelpful to Democrats. But he said Dean is learning on the job, and predicted that the party chairman will grow into his new role after serving in very different capacities as governor of Vermont and a presidential candidate.