Howard Dean may have to defend his decision to parry requests for support in the Congressional races

In a 10-21-06 post entitled "Democrats Approach Nov. 7 With a Surge in Fundraising," I wrote:

It has not begun to be talked, but if the Democrats have a great year come November 7, I think there is a good possibility that the House and Senate leadership will successfully go after Dr. Dean.

This remains the case -- and could be even more the case if the Democrats pick up fewer than 15 seats in the House (which I do not expect) and fewer than six seats in the Senate (which is difficult to call) -- but perhaps the following line from today's The New York Times provides some hint of things to come:

Almost without exception, Democrats have praised [Representative Rahm Emanuel, the Democrat from Illinois running his party’s effort to capture the House,] and [his Senate counterpart, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York] — though Howard Dean, the party’s national chairman, may have to defend his decision to spread Democratic National Committee money to build up parties in all 50 states, while parrying requests for support in the Congressional races.