Brazille - 5%

Clinton - 24%

Dean - 27%

Ickles - 16%

Rosenberg - 23%

Other - 1%

• Bill Clinton. Extremely popular former president who had a higher average approval rating than Ronald Reagan. The great Democratic communicator, but certainly did not help us much on down ticket races. Then again, the primary goal of the DNC chair is to help win the Presidency and present a good face that helps improve national party ID.
• Howard Dean. Excellent Fundraiser. Very good at firing up the activist base, even if it isn't always in the most organized fashion. Is obsessed with the need for a new message and better framing, even if he himself frequently strays from the message. Liked, if not loved, by many allied organizations. Nationally, associated with "the scream," and as a bit of a loose cannon.

• Harold Ickles. Former Josh Lyman in the Clinton administration (deputy chief of staff). Praising Ickles, diarist misheim writes:

  I've loved Harold Ickes since I saw him make Republican Senators quiver and shake during his Whitewater (I think it was Whitewater) testimony. I remember Sen. Nickles looking simply terrified when he realized that Ickes was not going to be easy prey. In fact, Brit Hume recommended that Ickes not be called back because he was too quick-witted for them. The DNC needs someone with his skills.

• Leon Panetta. Former Leo MacGary in the Clinton White House (Chief of Staff, 1994-1996. Here is his biography:

  PANETTA, Leon Edward, a Representative from California; born in Monterey, Monterey County, Calif., June 28, 1938; educated in the public schools of Monterey; graduated from Monterey Union High School, 1956; B.A., University of Santa Clara (Calif.), 1960; LL.B., Santa Clara Law School, 1963; admitted to the California bar in 1965 and commenced practice in Monterey; served in United States Army, 1963-1965; served as legislative assistant to United States Senator Thomas Henry Kuchel, 1966-1969; director, Office of Civil Rights, United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1969-1970; executive assistant to mayor of New York City, 1970-1971; engaged in private practice of law, 1971-1976; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the eight succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1977, until his resignation January 22, 1993; chairman, Committee on the Budget (One Hundred First and One Hundred Second Congresses); director, Office of Management and Budget, January 1993 to July 1994; chief of staff, The White House, 1994-1996.

• Simon Rosenberg. Chair of the New Democrat Network. Praising Rosenberg, Jerome quoted yesterday:

  [T]he party as institution must change. It must become more entrepreneurial. It must adopt, embrace and devise new tools. It must recognize the power of the Dean/netroots phenomenon while understanding its limitations. I see one individual who is both vested in the Democratic Party and who understands the ways in which it has atrophied. Simon Rosenberg of the New Democrat Network has the strong establishment credentials still required to run the party. But he also recognizes that more than a little fine-tuning is needed. He understands the imperative of building a new message infrastructure to rival the Murdoch/Scaife/Drudge axis of evil on the right." Baer continues: "Rosenberg also gets the importance of the Latino vote. He has been willing to challenge his New Democrat brethren at the DLC, whose jihad against Howard Dean was not only nasty and counterproductive, but also suggested their own flirtation with irrelevance." More: "I do not know Simon, though I do -- full disclosure -- have friends in his employ (who, it should be noted, have not pitched this idea to me). Simon Rosenberg strikes me as the one person who can toss out the bathwater while saving the baby. More than saving the baby, he can help nurture it to vigorous adulthood".