"In Seattle, Dean tells Dems to stand firm"

Bothell Times:

In a brief fundraising stop in Seattle, Howard Dean on Tuesday evening addressed about 200 supporters at the Westin Hotel, lauding Democratic achievements from the past two years and rallying constituents to continue work for the Democratic agenda.

The visit was billed as a "low-dollar" fundraiser. Most attendees paid $50 to hear the speech.

Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former presidential candidate, touched on immigration, abortion, gay rights and the Iraq war. He said Democrats should stand firm on "hot-button" issues such as abortion, adding most Americans have "mixed values" when it comes to those issues.

Democrats need to "seize the moral high ground," Dean said.

Dean also touched on universal health care: "Once we elect a Democratic president, we will have universal health care," he said.

Young voters, especially those between 18 and 29, should be a priority target for Democrats, Dean added.

Susan Newbold, 30, tagged along with a friend who is looking to get into politics.

"It was buzzworthy," Newbold said.