What's wrong with the Democrats?
Steady losses in Congress coupled with Sen. John Kerry's narrow defeat in 2004 by President George W. Bush has many Democratic Party faithful wondering how to rebound.
Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor and Democratic Party nominee, known by some for screaming after his loss in the Iowa caucuses, is the party's new chairman, signaling the Democrats are ready to start over and look forward to 2006.
Dean replaces outgoing chairman Terry McAuliffe, who oversaw loses in the race for the White House and most open U.S. Senate seats despite his impressive fund-raising campaign.
So how are the Dems going to succeed in upcoming elections?
University of Memphis political science professors shared their thoughts on the subject.
"I was impressed when Dean said he wants to rebuild state Democratic parties," said Matthias Kaelberer. "He must succeed, however, in building a bridge between the party base and moderates."
"The Democrats need a candidate who can talk to Joe Six Pack," he said, referring to the perceived notion among some that Kerry came across to rank-and-file America as stodgy and elitist. "That's an ability Kerry just didn't have."
He also said Democrats shouldn't write off certain states, namely in the Southeast, Southwest and Great Plains.
Kaelberer's opinions weren't entirely critical. He said a lot of Americans simply wanted to "rally behind the American flag" and not change presidents in the middle of a war.
"Sept. 11th still lingers in people's minds," he said. "People took that into consideration when they voted."
Dean's chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee worries some, who fear his previous hard-line verbal attacks on Bush and his liberal label may actually be a double dose of what isn't succeeding. Let's just wait and see, said Harry MaHood, U of M political science professor.
"The jury's still out on Dean," MaHood said. "He, like everybody else, has pluses and minuses but you must consider the fact that his Internet fund-raising and grass-roots campaign really mobilized the party."
MaHood also said the Democrats must appeal to the political center, recommending a 2008 presidential candidate from the West or Southwest, but not the Northeast.
Chuck Grimes, president of The U of M College Republicans, said the Democratic Party made a good move with the acquisition of Dean.
"Dean really shook the party up," Grimes said. "He's a leader by being an energizer and a performer. The Democrats needed him then and they need him now. If I were a Democrat, I'd probably want him on board."
Though Democrats have slumped compared to Republicans in recent elections, the loss margins typically haven't been overwhelming in some areas, making some, like U of M political science professor Robert Blanton, believe Democrat success is possible.
Kerry lost close electoral battles in Ohio, New Mexico, Iowa and Florida, ultimately tilting the presidential election in Bush's favor.
"I'd hardly call Bush's win a Republican landslide," Blanton said. "Sixty thousand more votes in Ohio and we're talking a whole new ballgame."
Blanton said the perception of Dean as an ultra-liberal isn't true, citing his balanced state budgets and praise from the National Rifle Association while governor of Vermont.
He did say that Dean needs to play an instrumental role in rebuilding his party's relations with America's middle class, especially in rural areas, which Bush largely won in 2004.
