Hillary explored coming out in open opposition to Dean but the Clintons counted the votes and realized that even with their opposition Dean would still be elected Chairman.
Dean will not resign. And as long as he has the support of the state party officals he is safe. He says the things he says because the Rank and File Democrats who run the party on a local basis love him.
The danger for Hillary is Kerry is going to run again with the support of Kennedy. For that battle Dean will be in Kerry's corner. If the media plays up Hillary as the anti-Dean, the base may very well give Kerry the nomination again.
Biden may very well trash Dean, but you will not hear Hillary bash him if she can stay out of the lime light where Dean is concerned.
When the Democrat Party voters actually started voting in 2004, Dean fell off the face of the earth.
As long as Democrats don't care about actually winning elections, Howard Dean is the perfect spokesman for them.
"Base" ? When will people understand that the Democratic base is not just cultural elite latte liberals ? It is also minority voters for whom the 90's were economically the best of times ? Blacks don't like cultural elite latte liberals. They like someone who can walk into a church and not look like Margaret Mead in Samoa. Kerry never understood that.
Blacks will give Hillary overwhelming support and that will clinch the nomination.
If Hitlery and Kerry factions deadlock the party and convention, Dean may become the candidate of choice. Wishful thinking here.