Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Friday that U.S. troops can't stay in Iraq for the next 100 years because they would always be engaged in some form of combat.

During a visit to Raleigh, Dean said Republican presidential candidate John McCain's policy to keep troops in the region will drain U.S. money for roads, health care and schools. McCain has said he would keep a U.S. presence in Iraq for 100 years, so long as troops are not being injured or killed.

"If you think our troops are going to be in Iraq and they're not going to be in some kind of combat, you've got another thing coming," Dean said during a speech to about 150 Democrats.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Katie Wright said Dean refuses to recognize that troops are safely on the ground at the sites of past wars, such as Germany, South Korea, and Japan.

"This is just more screaming rhetoric from a party that would rather see failure in Iraq than admit their candidate's judgment was wrong," Wright said.

Dean has been on a Southern bus tour to register voters for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. He planned Friday stops in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte.
Dean's largest opposition at the event came from Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters. Activists for the former Democratic presidential candidate said they were upset at how national Democrats have treated her candidacy.

The activists greeted Dean as he exited the bus and were last to wish him off. They stood with signs throughout Dean's speech.

"We need a president, not a rock star," said Dr. Judy Wish, 64, of Fayetteville. The lifelong Democrat got into brief arguments with Obama supporters at the event. She said she plans to change her party registration and will likely vote for McCain. Dean only briefly acknowledged the protesters, saying Clinton is a great person.

"At the end of the day, the difference between Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama is so big," Dean told reporters. "I do think the party will be unified as a result of that."

Obama has predicted he can win some Southern states, in part by increasing the participation of blacks and young voters. He has been airing television ads in Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. Dean vowed Friday to turn North Carolina to the Democrats, something that hasn't happened since 1976.

"The Democratic party has changed a lot in 30 years - and so has the South," Dean said. "There is no reason for us ever to pass over a state - anywhere. From here we're going on to Georgia, and we're going to win Georgia, too."