Dean supporters want Kerry to pick him for ticket

Dean has shown up on few, if any, lists of serious contenders.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Message from a group of Howard Dean supporters to John Kerry: Pick the one-time presidential candidate as your running mate or face a floor fight at the Democratic National Convention.
The National Draft Dean for VP Committee has not contacted either Dean or Kerry about its efforts, but it expects to approach the former Vermont governor before Democrats gather in Boston for the convention July 26.
"Howard Dean shifts the dynamics of the race," said Michael Meurer, co-chairman of the draft committee, who argued that Dean on the ticket would stop progressives from voting for independent candidate Ralph Nader.
Not mentioned much
Dean has shown up on few, if any, lists of serious contenders for the vice presidential nomination. Members of the draft committee say they believe their efforts to persuade Kerry through petitions to choose Dean will prove futile.
So they came up with the idea of forcing a vote at the convention. "We're gearing up for and we're resigned to a floor fight," Meurer said.
At least 300 delegates have to sign a petition to put such a question before the convention; organizers say they've already got 350 firm commitments from delegates to sign on and indications of support from 150 more. They declined to release their list of names.
For the effort to be viable, organizers think they need 600 to 750 delegates and are hoping for as many as 1,000, Meurer said.
"We've got three weeks till the convention. I think we can come up with the numbers," he said.
Describing himself as an enthusiastic supporter of Kerry, Dean said in a statement that he is not encouraging the group and urged his supporters to do the same regardless of Kerry's choice for a running mate.
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