Editor's note: Join Roland S. Martin for his weekly sound-off segment on CNN.com Live at 11:10 a.m. ET Wednesday. If you're passionate about politics, he wants to hear from you. A nationally syndicated columnist, Martin has said he will vote for Barack Obama in November. He is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith" and "Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America." Visit his Web site for more information. 

Roland Martin says Howard Dean bucked other leaders and insisted on a 50-state Democratic strategy. 

(CNN) -- If Sen. Barack Obama is able to prevail over Sen. John McCain on Tuesday, all of those Democrats who ripped Howard Dean's 50-state strategy over the last four years should call the head of the Democratic National Committee and offer a heartfelt apology. 

First in line should be New York Sen. Charles Schumer, Chicago, Illinois, Rep. Rahm Emanuel and my CNN colleague, political strategist James Carville. 

When Democrats were in the final stages of winning back Congress in 2006, those three were at odds with Dean, saying he should forget about his pie-in-the-sky plan to have the Democratic Party competitive in all 50 states. 

They reasoned that money spent on get-out-the vote efforts in non-congressional elections was futile, and all the effort should be on reclaiming Congress. 

But Dean resisted their suggestions, weathering repeated calls for him to resign after that election. 

Dean's insistence on having a Democratic Party that existed in the heartland, and not just California, New York and Massachusetts, was brilliant in that it made clear that the party recognized the rest of America. iReport.com: What would you ask Obama? 
Where did Dean want to see the Democratic Party?
What would this clarify that the party acknowledged?
Where are they already strong?
Who is Obama running against?
What is his current title?
And McCain's?
When are they running?
Who is Charles Schumer?
Who is Rahm Emanuel?
From where
Who is James Carville?
Who does he work for?
Who did they disagree with?
What did he have that they didn't like?
What did they call it?
What did Dean want the Democrats to be?
Where?
Who is Roland Martin?
Does he have a live show?
When?
in the heartland
Dean's insistence on having a Democratic Party that existed in the heartland
rest of America.
 it made clear that the party recognized the rest of America.
California, New York and Massachusetts
 Democratic Party that existed in the heartland, and not just California, New York and Massachusetts
John McCain
If Sen. Barack Obama is able to prevail over Sen. John McCain 
Senator
If Sen. Barack Obama
Senator
 Sen. John McCain
Tuesday
f Sen. Barack Obama is able to prevail over Sen. John McCain on Tuesday
a New York Senator
New York Sen. Charles Schumer
a representative
Chicago, Illinois, Rep. Rahm Emanuel
Chicago, Illinois
 Chicago, Illinois, Rep. Rahm Emanuel
a political strategist
CNN colleague, political strategist James Carville
CNN
 CNN colleague, political strategist James Carville.
Howard Dean
those Democrats who ripped Howard Dean's 50-state strategy over the last four years should call the head of the Democratic National Committee and offer a heartfelt apology
a 50-state strategy
ripped Howard Dean's 50-state strategy
pie-in-the-sky plan
 his pie-in-the-sky plan to have the Democratic Party competitive in all 50 states. 
competitive
 Democratic Party competitive in all 50 states
in all 50 states
 Democratic Party competitive in all 50 states
A syndicated columnist
 A nationally syndicated columnist, Martin 
yes
 his weekly sound-off segment on CNN.com Live at 11:10 a.m. ET Wednesday
11:10 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Live at 11:10 a.m. ET Wednesday.