Republicans lashed out Friday night at Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean after he called their party the "white" party in a radio interview.

The Democratic Party leader was discussing diversity in his own party during the interview, when he apparently slipped and referred to the rival party by color.

"Our party has been a no-majority party for a long time. The fact is that the Democratic Party is made up of lots of different people," Dean said.

"If you look at folks of color, even women, they're more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white -- excuse me -- in the Republican Party."

Dean laughed as he stumbled over the correction. The interview was posted on the news video Web site Breitbart.tv and credited to an NPR segment Friday.

John McCain adviser Carly Fiorina released a statement afterward condemning the comment.

"It is disappointing to see Howard Dean trying to use gender and race to divide voters. His comments are insulting, inappropriate and have no place in this election," she said.

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan added: "Howard Dean's comments on race and gender today are disappointing and wrong. His efforts to divide Americans are an insult to all our nations citizens and have absolutely no place in the national dialogue."

But DNC spokeswoman Stacie Paxton said Dean just "misspoke and corrected himself immediately.”