The front-runner among nine Democrats vying to challenge Mr George Bush in next year's US presidential election won a major boost today when he was backed by Mr Al Gore.
Mr Howard Dean won the surprise endorsement of former Vice President Mr Gore, who said in New York that Mr Dean had the "best chance to win and the best chance to lead our country in the right direction".
The decision came as a bitter blow to Mr Gore's running mate from the 2000 campaign, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.
Mr Lieberman said the announcement came as a surprise, adding it was now "less likely" that there would be a place for Mr Gore in a Lieberman Administration.
Speaking in Harlem, New York City, Mr Gore said: "Howard Dean really is the only candidate who has been able to inspire at the grassroots level all over this country the kind of passion and enthusiasm for democracy and change and transformation of America that we need in this country.
"We need to remake the Democratic Party, we need to remake America, we need to take it back on behalf of the people in this country."
He added: "I am very proud and honoured to endorse Howard Dean to be the next president of the United States of America."
PA