Dean vs. Sharpton- Affrimative Action [View All]

I'm interested in this controversy that's come up with Dean's remarks in 1995 about basing affirmative action on income instead of race. Personally, I've always really liked this idea. The whole point of affirmative action is to give low-income blacks opportunities...why not just use income to determine it, then? And it would help out the poor white folks, too. What's the problem? It's win/win.
Anyway, I'm wondering what you folks think Dean should do. Should he defend his previous remark, or give into Al's pressure and shore up his left flank (of course it sounds like he's already done this- however, this just happened so I think he's got time)?
I think Dean should go with the low-income idea. He already has the base of the left, and the key to keeping it, at this point, is being consistent. He's given the left the most important things that they want, and now he needs to maintain their trust, keep showing them that he won't get pushed around. Further, it seems to me that as Dean is getting so much press now, it may be a good time for him to start appealing to the more centrist voters, and this is a very reasonable issue to appeal to them on.
By the way, I'm really not looking for another Dean bashing thread here. I'm looking for honest political analysis, not judgments and hate.