Washington ? Befuddled Democrats began the task of “putting Humpty Dumpty back together again” on Tuesday, amid calls by centrists to broaden the party’s appeal and learn how to talk about moral values.

A gathering of Democratic strategists sponsored by the centrist Democratic Leadership Council was the first party conference looking to the future following election losses last week.

Jockeying began to replace Terry McAuliffe as Democratic national chairman, with former presidential contender Howard Dean becoming the first political heavyweight to express interest.

Among others being mentioned are Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, former Clinton White House adviser Harold Ickes, South Carolina education Supt. Inez Tennenbaum and Simon Rosenberg, president of the centrist New Democratic Network.

The liberal Dean told associates this week that he would be interested in the Democrats’ top job but has not yet publicly declared his candidacy. His recent speeches highlight a divide between liberals and moderates likely to persist as the Democrats look to the future.

Speaking Monday in New Hampshire, Dean said, “There are some people who say we ought to lean toward the middle. We are already there. If we move any further to the middle, we’ll fall off the flat edge of the world.”