Dean: Clark VP talk 'not even on the radar screen'

[newsguyatl]

Clark VP talk 'not even on the radar screen' -- Dean campaign
From CNN Correspondent Jon Karl
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean has met with another possible candidate, retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, on several occasions to ask for Clark's support if he decides against entering the race himself, Dean campaign officials said Thursday.
But the officials said the idea of Clark becoming Dean's vice presidential running mate -- a topic of discussion between the two men according to a Washington Post story Thursday -- is "not even on the radar screen" at this point.
And a close associate of Clark, Skip Rutherford, executive director of the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark., -- Clark's home state -- told CNN, "I think he's going to run. He'll be George Bush's worst nightmare."
Clark, supreme commander of the U.S.-led NATO forces in the Kosovo war, is expected to make a decision on entering the presidential race this month. He would become the 10th Democratic candidate.
Dean Campaign spokeswoman Courtney O'Donnell confirmed that Dean and Clark have had several meetings in recent weeks.
"Governor Dean has tremendous respect for General Clark and would be proud to have his support," she said. "The governor and the general met several times to talk about a host of issues ranging from general policy, domestic security and international affairs."
Asked about any discussions regarding Clark's status as a possible running mate for Dean, should he win his party's nomination, O'Donnell said:
"That's not where our focus is. General Clark definitely would be on the short-list. He'd definitely be considered along with others, but it's not even on the radar screen. It's a long road from now to then . . . If Clark doesn't run, we'd love his support. I'm sure many other candidates would want the same thing."
--CNN Political Researcher Robert Yoon contributed to this report

[rucky]

1. Usually TV news waits...

...for the body of the story to take a quote out of context. In this case, they did it right in the headline.

No peabodys for CNN today.

[newsguyatl]

2. out of context?

how so?


and this is a news wire, wires aren't FOR the tv viewing audience just so you know...