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Why are people so surprised by Howard Dean's DNC run?

From today's Washington Post story in the Style section:

Why is Howard Dean here? Does he really want this job?

Yes, Dean keeps saying, he really does want to succeed Terry McAuliffe as titular head of the Democratic Party. But it's telling that people keep asking if he really does. Dean keeps raising the question himself. "People ask me, 'Why are you doing this?' " Dean says Friday night at a rally of 400 supporters at another airport hotel here. "They say, 'You ran for president, and now you want to do this?'"

The answer itself is right in the article, and it's not Dean's answer that his DNC run is about "reform." Dean says, "Obviously I'd rather be president of the United States, but that's not going to happen. So my question is: How can I bring America back to where it ought to be, both for the party and the country's sake?"

One suspects that Dean knows that after his "YEAARRRRGH" speech, he will never win the presidency — he's seen by too many voters as raging, raving, and unstable.

So if you can't be the king, be the kingmaker. As DNC Chair, he will be able to fiddle with the primary schedule. He will be a high-profile face of the party, able to emphasize certain issues and talk up certain policy stands. He should have easy access to and considerable influence with the Democrats' nominee in 2008, whoever wins the primaries. He will be able to turn the DNC organization into his own army to stand up for "the Democratic wing of the Democratic party."

Thus Kerry's sudden interest in making sure any potential future DNC Chair stays "neutral" in the 2008 primary.

UPDATE: Dean has apparently won over Jim Jordan, Kerry's first campaign manager.

[Posted 01/18 01:01 PM]