Clark Closes On Dean In Democratic Race (UK Independent)

[KittyWampus]

By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
04 January 2004

General Wesley Clark, the former Nato commander who entered the presidential race only four months ago, is emerging as the candidate most likely to upset Howard Dean's hitherto unstoppable drive towards the Democratic nomination in November.

Gen Clark's appeal was underlined by the $11m (£6m) he raised in the fourth quarter of 2003, putting him second only to the former Vermont governor in the vital "invisible primary" of fundraising.... But armed with $3.7m of additional matching funds from the federal government, Gen Clark is now able to finance a vigorous campaign well beyond the crucial early contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.

snip

... Campaigning in New Hampshire last week, Gen Clark tried to cement the impression that he was the one viable alternative to Mr Dean, whose shoot-from-the-hip style and lack of foreign policy experience have many Democratic elders alarmed that he will be trounced by Mr Bush in the election. This would destroy Democratic prospects of recapturing control of Congress in the process. "I'm one of only two candidates in a position to win the nomination," he said. "I am best able to stand up to George W Bush and win the debate about who can make our country secure over the next four years."

snip

.... In a back-handed compliment to Gen Clark's progress, other candidates are starting to turn their fire on him as well as Mr Dean..... The Clark campaign is sending a 15-minute video about the general to 50,000 possible primary voters in New Hampshire. It will also be shown on cable channels in the state before the 27 January primary

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=477913

[truthisfreedom]

1. i hope they send that video on DVD.

Clark is On The Mark.

[adamrsilva]

2. Currently

Dean leads in Iowa, NH, and most of the states from then til March. If Dean wins Iowa and NH he'll likely have the momentum to maintain those leads, and I don't think Clark has much of chance. Somebody has to take him now.

[deminflorida]

4. South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona...

throw in a Bill Richardson endorsement towards Clark after a Clinton advisement....

you have a horse race...

Period..

[Larkspur]

16. I love to burst the Clark support bubble. Most of Richardson's

supporters already have endorsed Dean, not Clark and Gov. Richardson can not officially endorse any nominee because he is the head of the National Dem Convention.

[KittyWampus]

6. Clark Is Looking Good In NH

And other states as well.

[Hieronymus]

3. I've always liked Clark,

he gives a great impression and can't be beat on foreign affairs. He's a natural leader, apparently.:hi:

[dfong63]

5. disagree on foreign affairs

what's Clark done on foreign affairs, besides make war? it's not a balanced background. furthermore, as the ascension of Bush showed, a background in foreign affairs is not necessary to get to the white house.

[eagler]

7. Clark has many times the foreign affairs experience of Dean

or Bush in both peacetime and wartime.

[KittyWampus]

8. Brokered Peace Negotiations & Held Multilateral Alliance Together

all the while with the Neo-Cons doing their best to get him to fail.

They hate that a Democrat (Cliinton) was able to be successful in Kosovo and fighting Terrorism.

[beawr]

11. He made War

that was ordered by a Democratic President and he did so with no loss of American life and much smaller civilian casualties than we have had before.

[young_at_heart]

9. Our family really likes Clark

The more we see of him the more we are pulling for him. I think he has what it takes to beat Bush....at least I hope so!

[beawr]

10. I'm starting to find

That the folks I talk to that are in the Democratic Party and who do vote, but do not make much of an issue of their own politics, are tending to Clark. I think he appeals to all those Democrats (many many Democrats) that voted for Reagan in '84, maybe sat out in '88 and voted for Clinton and Gore thereafter. So, if Clark can get Democrats beyond the core constituency to vote in the primaries, he will win and win decisively. If all we have voting in the primaries are the core, then I think we will lose in 2004.

[TacticalPeek]

14. The proverbial nutshell.

[CalProf]

12. I'm for Kerry now...

but Clark is the next best alternative. I'll support him and work for him if Kerry doesn't pull it out.

[mefoolonhill]

13. clark - dean

That article pretty much relies on $$ figures to make the case that Clark is "closing in" on Dean. What it ignores is the huge advantage that Dean enjoys in terms of campaign infrastructure, endorsements, and political momentum. Dean has an incredible army of motivated people out there in the streets, and on the internet. Clark has his backers, but they are outnumbered 10-1 by the Dean forces.

The fact that Clark sat on the sidelines and then came waltzing into the race late doesn't say much for his commitment- they guy wasn't even a registered Democrat until very recently, and that sort of thing doesn't sit well with the party loyalists who will be in attendance at the national convention in Boston.

[FrenchieCat]

15. You mean....

The fact that Clark can beat Bush will make those 70% uncomitted superdelegates take a good look at Clark, especially now that Howard Dean is getting more scrutnity...not for his Internet wonder or money raising prowess...but more about his actual positions...like taxes....and can he win? My guess is that Clark will make it...Dean won't....if Dems want to have a good chance at winning in 2004.

[gttim]

17. GOPish scare tactics?

What is with Clark supporters using the GOP scare tactics? Because of my posts on blogs, I have been getting these emails from Clark supporters telling me that I need to change my allegience, because of Dean gets the nomination over Clark, Bush will be in office for four more years. What a load of crap! If Clark can't get the base and independents involved enough to beat Dean, he does not get to run against Bush, and in my opinion could not beat him. We need a guys who can excite the base, and independents. Dean is doing that, and it is why I feel he will win the nomination. If Clark supporters keep using this "Can't beat Bush" scare tactics, I am going to lump Clark in with Lieberman in my "Any Democratic nominee but" group.

Also, the article doesn't say Clark is gaining ground, just that he is the only candidate raising almost as much money as Dean. The close race it talks about in Iowa is not close and is not even with Clark.