DLC Criticizes Dean and Gephardt

Dean's campaign, struggling to overcome the financial and organizational shortcomings in a nine-candidate field, welcomed the attention.

"Every time they do this, we grow," said Dean's campaign manager, Joe Trippi. "If they want to get rid of us, they should just shut up."

Separately, a former Republican came to Dean's defense. Independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont cited Dean's statehouse record for balancing the budget and providing health care coverage as far from elitist and urged DLC leaders "to stop their divisive tactics."

"I have heard such charges coming from Republicans most of my political life, but I find it incredible to hear such charges coming from Democrats," Jeffords said in a statement.

Gephardt's campaign spokesman, Erik Smith, responded to the DLC memo by saying health care reform "requires a big idea and a big solution. And it's understandable that a lot of people are reluctant to take that challenge on. But as Mr. Gephardt has said the incremental approach has not worked and we cannot afford to wait any longer."

Gephardt, the Missouri congressman, was a leader in the DLC during the 1980s but is now considered too liberal for the group.

The DLC has lost touch with the party and the country.