Dean said that “the first thing we’re going to do is follow the rules...Both parties -- both Michigan and Florida have an opportunity to either have some sort of a process that is within the rules, or simply appeal to the credentials committee. But we are going to follow the rules that were voted on by all 50 states, a year and a half ago.”

Asked which approach he favors, Dean replied, “That’s really up to the states. I’ve had very good decisions with Sen. [Bill] Nelson [D-Fla.], in the last few days. Sen. [Carl] Levin [D-Mich.] called me the other day, and they are working on a process.”

Pressed whether he is “going to sit and wait until the states tell you what to do,” Dean said there are two options: 1. an alternative voting process that's under discussion; or 2. appealing to the credential committee of the DNC convention.

During his appearance on Face the Nation, Nelson -- a backer of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) -- floated a mail-in vote process for Florida. Dean called the idea “comprehensive,” noting that Oregon uses a mail-in process for its general elections and “you get to vote if you’re in Iraq or in a nursing home.”

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), expressed skepticism about the mail-in idea on the Sunday show.

However, Dean’s approach to wait for plans from the states is not enough for some within the party, who call on Dean to step in and settle the delegate dispute.

“He is the chairman, and the chairman ought to be getting the two campaigns together on a buy-in of how we’re going to resolve this,” said Nelson.

Kerry said that “Dean is doing his best to hold the rules, but also to be fair and inclusive.”

It’s unclear who would pay for new Michigan and Florida primaries, no matter what form they take.