MADISON, Wis. -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean spoke about the importance of a united front for Democrats at a fundraising event in Madison Tuesday night.

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While the race for the Democratic nomination for president has divided many voters within the party, Dean's speech focused on trying to bring voters back together.

"We need Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton as president," Dean said. "The only way that John McCain wins is if we are divided, and that is a fact."

While speaking to supporters at the Majestic Theater, Dean distanced both Clinton and Obama from Republican frontrunner John McCain and his stance on the war in Iraq, children's health care and the economy.

"This is really a clear election. There's an incredibly clear difference between either of our candidates and John McCain," Dean said.

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz echoed the same unified front, saying the competition between Clinton and Obama is bringing needed attention to the Democratic Party.

"Let's enjoy the attention that Democratic ideas are getting, that Democratic candidates are getting. Let's support our candidates. Let's have fun with it, but at the end of the day, let's remind ourselves that we're all part of the same Democratic family," Cieslewicz said.

A Democratic nomination is still likely months away, but even before a decision is made, the DNC is already trying to reunite its own supporters.

"Even though people feel really competitive right now in the Democratic Party, when you think about what's going on, it's extraordinary from a big picture point of view," Dean said.

Dean also spoke of how the Democrats are taking a different approach to winning this election, most notably by making a plea for residents to step up as neighborhood leaders.

The strategy is based on a concept that voters are more likely to listen to someone they know, such as a neighbor, than they would a campaign official or a flyer.

If the Democrats can get several thousand of these "neighborhood leaders," as they're being called, they said they hope the door-to-door effort could make the difference.

While Democrats battle for a nomination, the Republican Party is preparing for McCain's run for the White House.

"Here in Wisconsin, he is right there, tied with Obama, ahead of Clinton, in the last polling that I've seen. So, you'll see those numbers turn out. I think that Republicans recognize how important this election really is," said Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Jefferson said the Democrats' attacks on each other might help bring independent and swing voters to the Republican ticket.

The Republican Party said it is using the time from now until the Democrats have a nominee to gather support and volunteers and plan for McCain's campaign.