Clark to Accept Public Financing

[pruner]

SHARON THEIMER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Democratic hopeful Wesley Clark, who flirted with the idea of skipping public financing of his campaign despite a late fund-raising start, announced Thursday he will stay within the system.

<snip>

"We're raising money at a significant clip, which was why we waited so long to make the decision," Clark spokeswoman Kym Spell said.

However, she said, Clark ultimately decided to stay within the public financing system out of respect for the system and because it is the best decision for his campaign.

Clark has been capitalizing on Dean's decision to opt out of the presidential public financing system.

Clark campaign chairman Eli Segal sent a donor appeal Thursday noting Dean's recent decision to skip public financing and the accompanying spending limits as well as the possibility that Kerry will follow.

<snip>

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7256217.htm

[Closer]

1. That's DEADLY

if he were to get the nomination.

Though I don't think we'll have to worry about that, but still. Very deadly.

Starting so late, though, he really has no other option.

[joshan361]

2. nah its not

word of mouth is all Clark needs

[Closer]

4. Tell that

to BushCo's 200 million ok?

See how far "word of mouth" will go against 2-0-0 m-i-l-l-i-o-n in attack ads.

[joshan361]

5. ok

him against Bush lol, like i said word of mouth is all he needs ;)

[slinkerwink]

26. you're being overconfident....

remember what they did to GORE?!They'll do the same to Clark---hell, they even did it to Max Cleland....

[joshan361]

29. jus being positive

when the major media along with the GOP work together to keep him down..nuff said. wait till he has the backing of the entire Dem party

[Pastiche423]

40. "...entire Dem party"

Ha! If he is depending on that, good luck!

[Bread and Circus]

13. Dean needs money to polish his apple, Clark doesn't !

[RummyTheDummy]

53. And let's see how Dean's paltry sum will do him any good either.

Dean people are increasingly reminding me of Bush supporters. Same kind of person, just a different team.

[katusha]

60. won't the nightly news

about the quagmire in iraq be the dems vesion of attack ads?

[Bombtrack]

7. then why did Dean warn that he'd slam anyone who didn't except it

before it was financially beneficial for him to do so?

[Renew Deal]

20. Closer, we are what he needs. He needs us as much as money.

IF he is the nominee, our hard work will make the difference. Also, I think you can back out of the finance system at a later date.

[pruner]

22. the only other time to opt-out is after the convention

but it'd be crazy to do so… since it's such a short period of time til the general election.

even Bush will be accepting matching funds for the GE.

[Renew Deal]

23. I think we could raise more than $45 mil at that time.

It's like Dean said. 2,000,000 people would pay 100 to see Bush go away.

[pruner]

25. I think public financing totals $74 million for the general election

I'm not sure how much of that comes from donations and how much comes from matching funds.

[MoonRiver]

30. Soros and who knows how many other wealthy Democrats will fill in the gaps

for whoever gets the nomination. I feel very confident that enough people are, not simply appalled, but horrified about this fascist regime, that forces around the world are being put in place as we speak to shut the neo-con experiment down before its too late.

[tedoll78]

41. You just hit the bullseye.

If we have private organizations taking care of the get-out-the-vote efforts in key areas/states/precincts, that covers a huge chunk of the funding for the general campaign. And issue ads (payed-for by other groups) educating the public on Bush's idiotic positions are allowed up until a certain point, a point at which the matching funding can kick us into the driveway. Then there are forms of advertising less regulated than television, such as newspapers, billboards, radio ads, etc. The convention costs are also covered by the contract that our party has signed with Boston, which will save us millions-upon-millions.

Clark's made a wise move. His biggest obstacle to beating Bush could very well be getting the nomination. This makes his at least competative in the primaries. Once the nominee emerges, his/her pockets will be filled once again. Big-money donors largely hold-back until the nominee is decided. So if Clark does indeed get the nod, he could come out of the process broke, but he won't be broke for long at all.

[Clark Can WIN]

39. Closer...................Do you have like

a fucking alarm that goes off in your house whenever any thread containing the word Clark in it shows up on DU?

Seriously.

I imagine a flashing red light that goes into action on your ceiling, and a piercing, bone jarring scream of a siren that says CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK

And then you rush in with foam on your lips.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

46. Clark will win it!!!

Clark o4' :dem:

[Bertrand]

58. I Think It's A Good Move By The Clark Campaign

Clark gives the appearance of carrying the mantle of the idea of campaign finance reform while Dean flip-flopped when it was convenient. It highlights a contrast between their characters and is another issue that seperates them when people go to the polls.

[xultar]

3. Technically he doesn't need it...When he gets the nomination...

there will be so many private interests out there funding their own commercials against shrub that it won't matter.

Remember Soros?

[pruner]

6. the problem is that Soros et al can't coordinate with the Clark campaign

and he can't name Clark in any commercial he runs

[xultar]

9. That's fine...Just hammer on Bush, who else will there be to vote for?

Perot
Nader
Ventura?
Zell Miller?
O'Liely

[Renew Deal]

21. You nailed it.

That is part of the point. I would have been happy either way.

[Mz Pip]

8. Thanks for the reminder!

At first I thought this wasn't a good idea, but there will be plenty of folks willing to fund those "issue" ads that don't really name a candidate but you know exactly who they're talking about. :evilgrin:

MzPip
:dem:

[xultar]

10. That way they can BASH and SLAM and Clark looks Clean

Saves him from having to do the dirty work

[Demobrat]

18. Yeah, great.

Except that while they're bashing and slamming it would be nice if our candidate could be out there with a positive message.

[dsc]

19. Those private interests won't be able

to run any soft money ads until June and won't be able to run any past Oct 3rd. McCain Feingold forbids any ads within 30 days of the primary or the general election.

[KittyWampus]

11. How Has Clark Been Capitalizing ON Dean's Decision To Opt Out?

"Clark has been capitalizing on Dean's decision to opt out of the presidential public financing system."

Can someone please fill me in... I must have missed something... certainly wouldn't be the first time :+

Or is the m iedia just trying to get a dig into Clark at every occassion?

[Mz Pip]

14. Read the article twice

and other than that comment there is no mention of HOW Clark is capitalizing on anything. Guess the bias against Clark pops up everywhere.

MzPIp:dem:

[pruner]

17. he's soliciting funds to compete against the well-financed Dean machine

Bush is doing the same thing… pointing out in fundraising letters that Dean has opted-out and will raise as much money as he can.

:bounce:

[KittyWampus]

24. Do You Know That Clark Mentions Dean?

Does Clark's campaign even mention Dean or the fact that Dean opted out of funding... other than when a reporter may have asked Clark a specific question?

[pruner]

28. from the excerpt I originally posted:

Clark campaign chairman Eli Segal sent a donor appeal Thursday noting Dean's recent decision to skip public financing and the accompanying spending limits as well as the possibility that Kerry will follow.

[KittyWampus]

33. Thanks Pruner

:hi: you the man (?)

[Demobrat]

31. They mention him all right. In their fundraising emails.

They mention Kerry too. They're using Dean's decision to prod their supporters. Nothing wrong with that. Dean does the same in his fundraising emails and letters, but he talks about competing with W, not other Dems.

Clark campaign chairman Eli Segal sent a donor appeal Thursday noting Dean's recent decision to skip public financing and the accompanying spending limits, as well as the possibility that Kerry will follow.

"Both have been raising money for over a year and are blanketing the key early states with television advertising and paid campaign workers," Segal wrote in the e-mail. "As you know well, Wes Clark's campaign began just eight weeks ago."

[DoveTurnedHawk]

32. There Is No Mention of Dean at All

Below is the fundraising e-mail. There is an accurate allusion to Dean, but no mention of him by name. It's not even a negative allusion, either. It's certainly no more negative than Dean's comment about Clark last night on CNN (and for the record, I didn't think that was negative).

DTH

--

We need your help today! Please read and respond ASAP...

Dear Dennis,

You've provided the key early support that has put our troops on the ground in
New Hampshire. Today, we need your help to take our campaign to several other
key primary states. And we need it now more than ever, as other candidates
threaten to break the state-by-state spending limits. You've come through for
us before, and today we're asking for your support once more.

http://action.clark04.com/ctt.asp?u=1470192&l=8697

Last week, we came to you, Wes Clark's earliest and most dedicated supporters,
and asked for your help in New Hampshire, the site of the first primary battle
in just 75 days. Many of you came through for us, demonstrating your commitment
to Wes Clark's campaign in this state's come-from-behind contest.

And it's working! In just the past week, we've filmed our first campaign ads
(which will be ready to air by early next week) and continued to engage New
Hampshire voters face-to-face, door-to-door. Field polling has shown the
progress Wes Clark and our growing New Hampshire campaign team have made since
entering the race in late September.

The simple fact is that when Wes Clark brings his message directly to voters,
they respond enthusiastically. People recognize that Wes Clark is the leader
best able to clean up the mess that George Bush and his special-interest cronies
have created in Washington and around the world.

*** But something else has happened in the past week. At least one candidate
has decided to reject the state spending caps he once supported and is now
prepared to spend unlimited amounts in the early primaries. Another candidate
may soon follow. Both have been raising money for over a year and are
blanketing the key early states with television advertising and paid campaign
workers.

As you know well, Wes Clark's campaign began just 8 weeks ago. And while
national polls continue to demonstrate that Wes Clark represents the leadership
America needs now, the success of our campaign will depend on our work -- and
your support -- in key early states.

http://action.clark04.com/ctt.asp?u=1470192&l=8697

The New Hampshire primary is on January 27th, just 75 short days away. It's
quickly followed on February 3rd by critical primaries in South Carolina,
Oklahoma, Arizona, Missouri, and Delaware, as well as caucuses in New Mexico and
North Dakota. Caucuses in Michigan and Washington follow closely on February
7th. We need funds today to organize and fuel our campaigns in these states.
We need the most generous support you can give to make sure we can get Wes Clark
and his message of New American Patriotism in front of voters when it really
matters.

Your contribution of $1000 helps pay for a month's rent in our new South
Carolina office.

Your contribution of $500 buys a computer for a campaign staffer in Arizona.

Your contribution of $100 pays for a round-trip bus ticket from Little Rock,
Arkansas to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Your contribution of $50 or even $25 helps to finance the campaign materials,
grassroots organizing, and media time that will make a huge impact on the future
of our campaign -- and our country.

http://action.clark04.com/ctt.asp?u=1470192&l=8697

Please give what you can today, and then recruit others to match your
contribution and support for Wes Clark. Working together, we can aggressively
move our campaign forward, unseat George Bush next November, and put America
back on the right track to a future we can all be proud of. We simply can't do
it without you.

Sincerely,


Eli Segal
Chairman
Clark for President


PS. Please don't delay -- make your contribution now! The success of Wes
Clark's campaign is a direct result of your support. Your generosity today will
literally change this race, one state at a time. Please contribute now at
http://action.clark04.com/ctt.asp?u=1470192&l=8697 .

If you'd like to make your donation by mail, please download a contribution form
at http://action.clark04.com/ctt.asp?u=1470192&l=8697 and send it along with
your check to Clark for President, P.O. Box 2959, Little Rock, AR 72201.




Contributions to Clark for President, Inc. are limited to $2,000 per individual.
Federal Matching Funds will double your support up to $250. Contributions must
be made with personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by any other
person. Contributions by corporations, labor unions, persons under age 18,
national banks, federal contractors, and non-U.S citizens who are not lawfully
admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. are prohibited. Contributions to
Clark for President are for use in connection with the Democratic presidential
primary.

/----------------------------------------------------------\
| Paid for by CLARK FOR PRESIDENT, Inc. |
| Contributions and gifts to Clark for President are not |
| tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes. |
\----------------------------------------------------------/


***
To unsubscribe, visit us online at http://action.clark04.com/unsubscribe/

[pruner]

37. thanks for posting that DTH

:hi:

it seems the article I posted is a bit misleading (surprise, surprise).

[chaska]

Clark can play the "he's trying to buy the election" angle against Bush.

[Bread and Circus]

15. So true, again another clear difference for voters to distinguish.

[Bread and Circus]

12. Good!

[Bread and Circus]

16. Here's another link

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=694&e=1&u=/ap/20031114/ap_on_el_pr/clark_money

[TLM]

27. Well no surprise there...

I'm sure all the candidates who can't raise enough money to even to meet the 45 million limit, let alone pass it, are going to opt for matching funds.

What's Clark raised so far... like 9 million total? He'd be stupid not to take them.

[FrenchieCat]

34. Good.....

The man Clark is so honest, he doesn't even have to blink to clear out the lies!

[WillyBrandt]

35. Is this just for the primaries or for the general?

I'd figure that Clark would opt into public financing in the primaries since he started late and has a lot of small supporters, and opt out during the general when he'd have a huge number of supporters.

[Myra]

36. Ignoring the few trolls in this thread, & sticking to the point...donate!

Yeah, I got General Clark's campaign email
stressing the importance of raising funds
early so that they can take on the two candidates
with such deep pockets that they can ignore spending
limits. So it underscores the importance of donating
early, so he'll get maximum matching funds. I've given
what little I can. Hope I can give more soon...

[Pastiche423]

44. ...donate!

I did! To Dean!

[Rowdyboy]

45. Good...

I'm glad you care enough to donate to your favored candidate. I do the same for mine. If Dean is nominated, my allegiance will switch immediately.........

[Myra]

47. Not to be a ditto-head, but...

Ditto.

[Fleshdancer]

38. man oh man

I really wish Clark hadn't done that. At this point, I think Democrats would go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to raising money to defeat bush. No Democratic candidate should accept fed. funds...it might help for the short term, but we need to keep our focus on Nov. '04.

I respect Clark's decision for wanting to respect the system, but it's hard to respect the system when the system is so willing to sell out to the bush co. who's raising $200 million+ with no opposition!

At the end of the day, there will be no respect for the campaign finance rules unless everyone is forced to abide by them...and that means BOTH parties, not just the Democrats.

[FrenchieCat]

42. Duh.....

He can opt out after winning the Primaries. remember the "other moneys", Soros and Phillips and so forth....

There is a game plan. We just don't know what it is. Remember to think strategically....

Unless you are a Dean supporter that is.

[pruner]

43. he wouldn't get to opt out til after the convention (end of July)

whoever the candidate is will not opt out at that point.

public financing gives them $74 million for the general election.

Bush will not be opting out.

[Fleshdancer]

48. Oh yes, because insulting me helps the conversation...

"There is a game plan. We just don't know what it is. Remember to think strategically....Unless you are a Dean supporter that is."

Us Dean supporters are good at thinking strategically...hence our vote to tell Dean not to take the federal matching funds. But then again, we know what the game plan is...unlike the Clark supporter.

[Shakespeare]

54. Oh, c'mon...

That "poll" for Dean supporters to vote on matching funds was the equivalent of yelling "Who wants ice cream!"

Of COURSE an overwhelming majority was going to vote for Dean to forego public funding. I can see the merits of going either way, but please don't act as if the vote on that website had any connection with what Dean's campaign had already decided to do.

[gardenista]

49. Hmmm... could this mean

that he's running for VP?

(I'd vote for him in either slot.)

[FrenchieCat]

51. In Dean's dreams....

After all, the way Dean would have it Clark is Dean's Foreign Policy, Military experience, southern strategy, and Patriotic badge...

Sheech......I'll save this thread and bring it back in January '04.

[slinkerwink]

50. that shows he's not serious about taking Bush on

Clark needs more than $75 million dollars to counter the $200 million of Bush/Rove advertising, and since he's agreed to abide by the caps, it shows he's not really serious about winning the nomination. It sounds more like he's running as a VP.

[FrenchieCat]

52. You didn't read the thread....

especially the part about Soros, etc.....

[RandomUser]

55. Something to think about

1) Clark has not spent a single dime on TV ads. Nonetheless, he's doing well and is one of the top contenders.

2) Democrats have traditionally been behind Republicans financially -- yet Dems have still managed to defeat republicans and get elected. So obviously, having more money certainly helps but doesn't get you elected.

3) We knew Clark would be running at a disadvantage the moment he entered, considering that time difference between his campaign and the others who have been around for over a year. Yet, despite skeptics who said no one could announce this late and do well, and that his campaign was a joke, Clark is polling well, has raised more than some who have been in longer, created the second largest grassroots network, gotten tons of endorsements, and has a real shot at taking SC.

Does this decision by Clark mean that he will be at a financial disadvantage? Yes. We knew he would be at a disadvantage going in, timewise. And yet he's proven skeptics wrong that he wouldn't be viable because of such disadvantages.

I think Clark will still be able to do well. It will be an uphill battle, but we knew that from the get-go, considering his time disadvantage. Clark is good at overcoming handicaps. He taught himself to walk without a limp despite losing a quarter of his leg muscle. He won the state championship despite being one swimmer short of a team, having no coach, and no swimming pool to start with.

The game is not over yet. He hasn't even spent a dime on TV ads and is doing better than those who have.

[stickdog]

56. What, not enough fatcats scared of Dean to open their wallets? (nt)

[depakid]

57. A logical strategic move on Clark's part

he doesn't have Dean's fundraising base- and his organization (such as it is) still isn't up to speed. Choosing to use federal matching funds allows him to buy more media exposure, and it looks good on the surface because he's playing by "campaign finance rules" (of course, we all know what a farce this particular set of rules is). Even so, it plays well in contrast to Dean & Kerry.

This one really was a no-brainer, though- and frankly I'm a little surprised at some of the postings here in light of that fact. I suppose I shouldn't be, given the often absurd polarization between the Clark and Dean camps.

[roguevalley]

59. Unions, etc have stashed the cash to do ads against bush.

they have networked over the past year determined to
end bush's occuption.

Bush had 100m $ last time and blew about 75$ million of
it before the primaries were over kicking around here and
there. I don't think he will change. If you have wads of
cash, you can do stupid things.

Also, the climate is different. 30m unemployed, a couple
of disastrous wars and no resolution on the social net
that people are worried about. Tons of boomers are/want
to retire. They haven't been addressed. Also, bush is
stonewalling everything that is done to find out the truth
about everything.

New world, my brothers and sisters.

I admire the class that Clark has brought to the table
by keeping his word not to bash fellow dems. Class act,
that man.

[1songbird]

61. Not a good move, oh well.

[HFishbine]

62. The whole notion

of democrats using this issue against each other is ludicrous. Each should do what's best for his or her campaign. For Dean, it makes sense that he opt out, for Clark, despite the assertion that his campaign was raising money at a "good clip," it makes more sense for him to stay in. Neither should be praised or critisized for their decisions. Both are simply being practical.

http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/index.asp