With a visit to Iowa on Wednesday and New Hampshire next month, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is fueling speculation that he’ll mount a second run for president in 2016.
Mr. Dean, also the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a liberal favorite, will address a labor group in Altoona, Iowa, on Wednesday morning, the Associated Press reported. On Sept. 23, Mr. Dean is scheduled to speak at St. Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Goffstown, N.H. The speech will be titled “Health Care in the Private Sector — Reform Is Still Possible,” according to New Hampshire’s WMUR-TV.
After serving as governor of Vermont from 1992 to 2003, Mr. Dean launched what began as a long-shot campaign for president in 2004.
But amid his strong opposition to the Iraq war, he quickly gained traction and shot to the top of the polls. His momentum fizzled out just before voting began; he came in third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire. Then-Sen. John F. Kerry would go on to capture his party’s nomination.
Mr. Dean’s 2004 campaign is perhaps best remembered for his infamous scream, delivered on a campaign rally stage the night of the Iowa caucuses. The incident — known in political lore as the “Dean Scream” or the “I Have a Scream” speech — often is blamed for sinking his campaign, but in reality, he already had begun to falter, as evidenced by his third-place finish in Iowa.
SEE ALSO: Two liberals say Sarah Palin is right: Obama lacks substance
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.