"In a sign of resistance to Howard Dean's bid to lead the Democratic Party, the executive board of the Association of State Democratic Chairs recommended on Sunday that the association endorse one of Dr. Dean's rivals, Donnie Fowler Jr. of South Carolina," the New York Times reports. The recommendation will be voted on by the entire association today.
Time notes "a dent was knocked into the aura of inevitability surrounding" Dean's run to be the next party chair.
Update: Eric Carbone says Dean won the backing in today's vote, with Fowler coming in second. Jerome Armstrong has the vote count.
Update II: Kos says "apparently that powerplay Fowler (and his father) pulled with the Assocation of State Democratic Chairs executive committee has backfired."