"I don't think that the statement the governor [Dean] made was a helpful statement," Pelosi said, in quotes picked up by The Associated Press.

The top Democrat tried to put the best face possible on her party's one-man human gaffe machine.

"The role of the chair of the Democratic National Committee is one that is different than the role of the Democratic leader of the House or in the Senate," Pelosi said. "And sometimes the exuberance of that position results in statements that neither of us would make."

"Listen," she explained. "Any one of us at any given time will make a statement that we may, in retrospect, say maybe that was a little over-enthusiastic. And I can put that statement in that category for Governor Dean."

Otherwise, Pelosi said, Dean is doing a good job.

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