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Emanuel has pointed out that Republicans routinely fund their House and Senate organizations, while Dean instead has been doling money out to state party organizations.

The rift again took the spotlight last week, when the DNC announced that it was shipping what insiders say was a total of about $3 million to Democrat parties in Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Insiders say that Dean has budgeted between $12 million and $15 million for the state program. It was the state funding plan that helped Dean win the chairmanship 18 months ago.

But Emanuel wants part of the DNC fund shifted over to his coffers so that he and his team can better finance Congressional races that they believe could swing the majority to their side this fall. It isn't just Emanuel who is fighting Dean. His counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Chuck Schumer has complained loudly about Dean's funding priorities, and Dean has found himself under attack in private meetings with Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Emanuel has complained about Dean to his fellow Democrat leadership colleagues, saying that something has to be done after the election cycle. That is one reason why some House insiders privately are talking almost hopefully about not retaking either House of Congress.

"A loss this year could very well put Dean in his place or take him out altogether," says a House Democrat leadership aide. "We've raised expectations so high, that if we fail to gain what we have predicted, Dean has set himself up for a big part of the blame because he controls so many purse strings."

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Nancy Pelosi