The former first couple headlined an inauguration-night bash at the D.C. home of former Clinton pollster Mark Penn, where, one attendee said, "There was a ton of positive energy at the house – except for the fear and loathing of Dean."

The Clintons are doing their best to keep their antipathy toward Dean under wraps, lest he win the post and throw his support to someone besides Hillary in 2008.

But while Sen. Clinton is keeping her head down, Newsweek says her ex-president hubby has taken an active role is searching out an acceptable substitute for the volatile Vermont liberal when the party votes on Feb. 12.

Last month Mr. Clinton personally sounded out current chairman Terry McAuliffe, asking him to stay on the job and head Dean off at the pass. McAuliffe declined.

Dean's chief rival had been longtime Clinton loyalist Harold Ickes. But he dropped out of the race in December after saying he didn't think Sen. Clinton could win the White House.

Other names touted as possible alternatives to Dean: former Texas congressman Martin Frost, one-time party chair Ed Rendell, pro-lifer Tim Roemer and former Clinton U.N. ambassador-turned-New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

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