Kerry Spot    [ jim geraghty reporting ]
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Kate Michelman, the former head of NARAL, has apparently stated on CNN's "Inside Politics" that she is thinking about running for DNC chair.

Earlier today, CNN interviewed DNC Chair candidate Tim Roemer.

KELLY WALLACE: Well, you know your critics have taken issue with your position, being anti-abortion rights. I see you smiling there. Kate Michelman, the former head of NARAL, who very well could throw her hat into the race as well, as well as to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee, she says, "Tim Roemer's candidacy for chairman of the party threatens the very principles for which the Democratic Party has stood for many years." She says, "His views and record are closer to those of George Bush." How do you respond to that?

ROEMER: Well, first of all, Kelly, I don't want to steer this party to the right. And I disagree with those that want to steer it to the left. We need an inclusive party.

Senator Kennedy in remarks this week to the American people said we should not be a party that litmus tests on abortion or any other single issue. I agree with that. I think we need ideas and values. We need to connect to voters in the South and the Midwest that quite frankly don't think we care about some of those values.

So I think in my conversations — and I've had some private conversations with Kate Michelman, the person you just mentioned. We need to make sure that in the future we're not litmus testing on this issue.

And Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Bush, who have different positions on abortion, are in the Republican Party. They can talk. My mother is very much pro choice. I am pro life. We should be able to be in the same party.

WALLACE: But your critics might say, with some of your positions again being anti-abortion rights, that perhaps you would in some way swing the party more to the right than to the left. What do you say to that?

ROEMER: I want to keep this party going with the kind of values and the kind of security on job security and national security, Kelly, that will help us win elections. I'm tired of losing elections.

We lost 97 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the United States. We got beat in all five open Democratic seats in the deep South. We lost ground with Hispanic voters and Catholic voters.

I want to help modernize our party and our state party organizations. I want to be inclusive as a party. I don't want a litmus test on a single issue.

TKS, on Wednesday: "One has a hard time seeing the party’s staunchly pro-choice wing just saying ‘okay’ and embracing their arch-nemeses with open arms. You want to see a bloody intra-party fight? If Democratic party leaders start seriously reaching out to pro-lifers, the ensuing fracas will make the current Republican disagreement over immigration look like a tea party."

UPDATE: According to today's Washington Post, Michelman has decided not to enter the race.

[Posted 01/14 04:44 PM]