A few weeks ago, the Beltway consultants were trashing Dean. Now their clients are. C'mon, Harry--You're so much better than this! WaPo:

Democratic congressional leaders aren't happy with the way Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is spending money. At a private meeting last month, they let him know.

Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) challenged the former Vermont governor during a session in Pelosi's office, according to Democratic sources. The leaders complained about Dean's priorities -- funding organizers for state parties in strongly Republican states such as Mississippi -- rather than targeting states with crucial races this fall.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said he pledged to rebuild the state parities when he campaigned for his current position.

Neither side was willing to give ground, according to several accounts of the meeting. Dean argued that his strategy is designed to rebuild the party across the country, and that he had pledged to do so when he ran for party chairman. Reid and Pelosi countered that if Democrats squander their opportunities this year, longer-term organizing efforts will not matter much.

Tell me again why we should listen to anything the Beltway Dems--or their consultants--have to say about winning national elections? Because of 2000? Because of 2002? Because of 2004?

Sure, these guys know how to hold onto their districts, but as far as building a national party, they've been clueless. (Clinton, too, I have to admit.)

These guys remind me of nothing so much as a sports team that's a perennial challenger and never a winner, because they're always "one player short." In cases like that, it's never the play that's the problem; it's the organization.

Dean should do what he promised to do; if he were the only source of Dem funding the Beltway Dems might have a point, but he isn't. They have a problem with Dean not because of strategy but because he's upsetting cozy relationships and empowering the grass roots.