The effort collapsed because of heat on the leadership both from trade unions and from rank-and-file Democrats.

I am taking my message and my appeal to rank-and-file Democrats all over the state.

Millions of rank-and-file Democrats had been wondering the same thing, and they flocked to the Dean cause.

Congressional aides said many rank-and-file Democrats were upset over the leadership's tentative plans to give in on the plant-closing issue.

But enough rank-and-file Democrats defected to push the cut through the House last year.

Moreover, the leadership would be under tremendous pressure from unions and rank-and-file Democrats not to accept the President's compromise.

Most rank-and-file Democrats have decided to ignore this bizarre process, which has produced losers four of the five times since it was concocted in 1972.

But as the idea gained support among rank-and-file Democrats, it spawned a bitter partisan battle.

Among rank-and-file Democrats however, there is still uneasiness.

Reform, if it is to come, requires a blossoming of a genuine reform movement among rank-and-file Democrats.