In an appearance on CNN's State of the Union over the weekend, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean took a shot at the Obama administration for what he saw as its inability to maneuver in a polarized political climate.

"I think the people around the president have really misjudged what goes on elsewhere in the country other than Washington, D.C.," explained Dean. "I don't think this is true of the president, but I do think his people, his political people ought to go out and spend some time outside Washington once in a while."

Despite the criticism, Dean, who also served as Governor of Vermont, suggested that he remains optimistic that Democrats will retain control of both congressional chambers following the midterm elections this November.

"I'd bet money on the Senate for sure," said Dean. "The House is much tougher, I think at the end of the day, we are going to win in the House, and we are going to have a majority. It'll probably be reduced ... perhaps as small as a five or ten seat majority. We simply have better candidates."

Dean went on to underscore what he sees as the bottom line, as well as the stakes for Democrats, when it comes to this year's midterm match-ups.

"We've got to win this election," explained the strong progressive voice. "After the election is over we can go back to having our policy fights, but this is about winning. You can't get anything done unless you have a Democratic president, a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House."

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