Dean Will Step Down as DNC Chairman

The party has raised more than $97 million in 2007 and has $25 million on hand

(NEWSER) - The Democratic candidates may be flush with money, but their party isn't. The GOP has a nearly 7-to-1 advantage in cash on hand, the New York Times reports. Democrats hope to make up the gap once they settle on a nominee, but the GOP already has begun plotting with John McCain on how to best use the advantage. Republicans raised $97 million last year and have $25 million left; Dems raised $60.5 and have $3.7 million left. More»

Democratic party chief doesn't pull punches, or waste time

(NEWSER) - Debbie Wasserman Schultz does not pull punches. She has accused the Republicans of waging "a war on women," called their Medicare plan "a death trap for seniors," and said that those pushing voter ID laws "literally want to drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws." That combative attitude has made her a lot of enemies, but it's also made her, "practically overnight, the face of the Democratic Party," the Wall Street Journal observes in a profile today. More»

President talks tech, innovation in Cali

(NEWSER) - President Obama met with Apple's Steve Jobs in California yesterday, the New York Times ' notes. The two talked tech, innovation, and education, before the president took his leave to meet another tech titan: Marissa Mayer of Google. Mayer hosted the president and about 50 others at her home for a $30,000 a plate DNC fundraiser. The event, the San Francisco Chronicle says, featured "plenty of up-close-and-personal moments" with the president ... and regular updates from the Giants-Phillies game, too. More»

RNC chair blasts Obama's trip as 'unnecessary'

(NEWSER) - President Obama shouldn’t bother going to Denmark to argue for Chicago's Olympic bid, Michael Steele says; that’s what Michelle’s for. “The first lady would have been and should have been the lead there,” the RNC chair said today. “Let her go and sell Chicago.” He said the intention behind the trip was “noble,” but that “at a time of war, at a time of recession… this trip, while nice, is not necessary.” More»

(NEWSER) - The RNC has joined the fracas over health care reform with a proposed “seniors’ bill of rights” that guards against Medicare cuts, ABC News reports. “Our seniors have really come under fire in the last few weeks,” says RNC chair Michael Steele—who backed Medicare cuts as a Senate candidate in 2006. His argument today on Good Morning America: "We should protect the seniors' ability to access health care." More»