Howard Dean

Former Gov. John Kitzhaber had been rumored to be a candidate for Secretary of Health and Human Services in President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet, but on Wednesday Politico.com reported that that position went to former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

Kitzhaber was first rumored for the post three weeks ago, along with Daschle and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean.

The Democratic Party of Oregon was saddened by the news that Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean will step down from his post in the beginning of 2009, as reported by Politico.com.

According to the report, Dean plans to honor his commitment of serving a single term as party chair. During his tenure, Dean saw the Democratic Party earn two of its biggest wins in the 2006 and 2008 elections.

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Howard Dean

PORTLAND -- While he was addressing Democratic volunteers at Barack Obama’s Oregon headquarters on Sunday, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean was very critical of U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s closing message of stopping a runaway Democratic regime in Washington.

Howard Dean at Obama HQ: Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean speaks to Democratic volunteers at Obama headquarters in Portland two days before the election.PORTLAND --  Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean stumped with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland) and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) at Barack Obama’s Oregon headquarters Sunday night, urging volunteers to work as hard as possible in the next 48 hours to turn out as many voters as possible.

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean is headed to Oregon Sunday to participate in get-out-the-vote events with state Democratic candidates.

Howard Dean: Getty Images PhotoDemocratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said Friday that in order for Jeff Merkley to continue his upward trend in the polls, he has to continue to make the conversation focus on U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s record in Washington, D.C.

“The idea that Gordon Smith and John McCain represent change is a joke,” Dean said. “They want to talk furniture, hot dogs, lipstick. How about this: Let’s talk about Gordon Smith and John McCain.”

John McCain reaches new national highs and lows while Barack Obama stays solid in Oregon.  DNC Chair Howard Dean swings through the state while Gordon Smith has a tough week.  Read all about it in this week's Winners & Losers.

According to Barack Obama’s Oregon campaign spokeswoman Sahar Wali, Dean will be appearing at two rallies as part of his Register for Change tour. The first event will be at Lewis & Clark College at 1 p.m., where Dean will address students on the importance of registering to vote. The second event will be a volunteer appreciation event at Obama’s campaign headquarters in southeast Portland at 5 p.m.

Check back next week to view my Convention Sketchpads from the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

The fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, with a theme of "Change You Can Believe In."

The final day's events will take place at INVESCO Field at Mile High, where over 70,000 people are expected to attend.

Featured speakers will include Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D), former Vermont Gov. and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean (D), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), former Vice President Al Gore (D) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D).

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the Democratic presidential nominee, is scheduled to address the convention at 10 p.m. EST.

The full schedule is below.