Howard Dean finally manages to win a nationwide Democratic election, although he had to have everyone else drop out of the race first to do it. The New York Times reports that Dean is the last man standing for DNC chair after Rep. Tim Roemer dropped out:

Timothy J. Roemer, the last of Howard Dean's rivals in the race for Democratic national chairman, dropped out on Monday, assuring Dr. Dean of victory.

Mr. Roemer, a former congressman from Indiana, had been backed by the House Democratic leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, and had staked out a position as the most conservative alternative to Dr. Dean.

Roemer didn't leave the race quietly, however:

But as he dropped out Monday, he stood his ground. He said Democrats had allowed President Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, to define the party's abortion politics, and called on Democratic leaders to become more inclusive.

"Some in our party have tried to make that a radioactive anvil around my neck," Mr. Roemer said of the abortion issue. "I've had everything, including a couple of kitchen sinks, thrown at me the last few weeks. But I'm not deterred."

Roemer's warning will likely go unheeded by the firebrand Dean, whose initial lead in the Democratic primaries melted away as soon as the first votes were held. Dean famously also melted down in the crucible of Iowa, first in a Dan Quayle moment with Al Sharpton at the pre-caucus debate, and then in an absurd post-caucus appearance that gave the impression of a severe separation from reality. Now the man who couldn't even win a single primary except in his home state of Vermont despite raising $40 million and leading in virtually every poll will lead the Democrats in strategizing their comeback from the wilderness.

If the Democrats wanted to cement their status as a minority party, they couldn't do a better job. Is anyone awake at the DNC?

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