Are Dean and Clark up to something?

[Northwind]

One day after Kerry is supposed to have his big day officially launching his campaign, Clark yanks all the wind from his sails and erases him from the press by going on a show and (finally) admitting he is a Democrat. A couple of weeks ago, Dean is asked if he would choose Clark as a running-mate and he quickly and enthusiastically says "yes" and also states that he and Clark are in constant contact.

Are they working the system? Have they been planning a Dean/Clark ticket for some time and are using Clark's long soul-searching about running as a way to generate buzz without having to spend campaign money? Clark has been all over the TV lately. His presence in the race would be disastrous for Kerry, who at this point is Dean's only real competition (sorry supporters of other candidates, but it is true). So, Clark plays his waiting game and times his appearances and nom-announcements to wipe away any buzz that the Kerry campaign creates. Then later, Clark will say he feels he should not run for the top spot, but might consider a VP if asked by one of the residential contenders. Dean gets the nomination a few months later, and lo and behold, asks Clark to be his VP.

Keep in mind the Dean campaign used a similar tactic in issuing that TV ad in Texas. They paid for a short run of a short TV ad in a single city, but the fact that he had the audacity to run an ad in Texas gets the ad played on the news all over the country, thereby getting what was in effect a national TV ad for the price of a local city ad. The Dean campaign cleverly uses the news networks to spread their message and create excitement and awareness of the campaign.

If this is the case, I think it is brilliant strategy.

[deutsey]

1. For what it's worth:

At an event I put together recently at which Joe Trippi, Dean's campaign manager, was the special guest, someone asked him about chances for a Dean/Clark ticket.

Trippi said it's too early to speculate on such a pairing, but he did say that Clark and Dean like each other and talk frequently.

[joeybee12]

2. Clark knows how to work the media

He got them into a "speculation frenzy" and he's gotten a lot of coverage, and therefore name recognition.

[CMT]

3. if Clark gets in he is going for the brass ring

he will run for president. He might consider VP but that is not his goal and it is too early to say who Clark will hurt the most. Fellow vet Kerry? or fellow Iraqi War opponent Dean? or someone else? or no one?

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

4. I think you may be right, because Clark's actions and words

have all along had the feel of someone aiming for a vice president spot. Wouldn't he have definitely been out there long before this raising money if he were going for president? I have been reading The Daily Kos blog for a while and he seems to know what he is talking about on these matters and he says it is almost too late for Clark to raise money for the candidacy at this point, but my guess is that was never Clark's intention anyway.

[meegbear]

5. A brilliant strategy to you ...

what is with all you dean people that assume that because Clark hasn't made his final decision yet that he's holding out to be dean's VP candidate?

What REAL facts are you basing this on? Didn't Ahh-nold say he probably wouldn't run then announce he would?

[Northwind]

7. You will note I said IF it is true.

I am not putting this forward as a fact (which I think would be obvious). That is why the thread title was a question. It is just an intriguing possibility that is consistent with much of what we have heard from both men and also consistent with the strategic nature of politics in general and Dean's campaign in particular.

[Cha]

12. Northwind was asking a question!

And was purely speculative! And comparing this to arnie and his dumbass is comical.

[KaraokeKarlton]

6. I was thinking this same thing not long ago

And posted about it. Not many people responded. I was thinking that it would be a brilliant way for Dean to neutralize any threat Kerry would be. There are a lot of people who are really going with Kerry mainly because of the military thing. Clark trumps Kerry on military leadership credentials plus he opposed the war in Iraq. He'd really hurt Kerry most by running.

[Whitacre D_WI]

8. I've been thinking for a while now...

...that Clark has been "running for Vice President." I think he would be a huge boon to any Democratic nominee, and the criticisms that would be leveled against him as a presidential candidate (e.g. his lack of experience in electoral politics) would not really hurt him as a veep nominee.

I'm not saying Clark couldn't win the nomination or the general election (c.f. Eisenhower), just that he wouldn't be the shoo-in that many seem to think. I'm also not trying to dis the Draft Clark people - if you think he would make a good president, by all means, support him. I simply believe that Wes is gunning for VP right now; and then with that under his belt, he may seek the nomination later. He is still a fairly young man, after all.

Anyway, I believe Clark as a running mate would be an asset in the general election to any candidate:
- for the anti-Iraq-war candidates, he'd bring an image of strength in national security, and
- for the pro-Iraq-war candidates, he'd be seen as a voice of moderation, of opposition thought.

And I think any ticket that puts * (& co., inc.) out of the White House will be a good thing.

[Cha]

14. Hear Hear! And Welcome to DU! Whitacre!

:toast:

[DrFunkenstein]

11. What Does "He Opposed The War" Mean?

Has anyone asked him how he would have voted for the IWR? Absent that, I don't see his position as any different than Kerry's.

[Cha]

13. I wonder how Clark and Dean got to be friends?

:kick:

[Gloria]

9. Quite possibly....I've been working on an article

on the Democratic message for 2004 and along the way, came up with some interesting tidbits that I probably am going to split out and turn into another piece speculating on the Clinton-Dean, Clinton-Clark relationships.

For example, I didn't know that Dean advised Clinton, along with a handful of other govs, after the 1996 election losses and the message was NO MORE LEFTY stuff. And Clark was exploring a run against Huckabee for gov, but opted out.

I'm beginning to think the hand of Clinton is at work here and I will lay out the "evidence" in that article. But first, I have to finish the other one for Buzzflash.

[Avalux]

10. No one runs for VP

If Clark makes the decision to join the group, he's going for POTUS. He's not the sort of man that will settle for the #2 spot. He's been top dog in anything he's ever done.

[DrFunkenstein]

15. Senator Graham?

I thought it was pretty clear he was just getting his name out for the bottom half of the ticket.

[Nicholas_J]

17. Graham goes with Kerry if anyone

Why do you think that the Washinton Post went after Dean recently.

Katherine Graham is a relative of Grahams and Graham aloways got good press from the Post, and Grahams detractors slammed.

[Nicholas_J]

16. This is just like the

Clinton loves Dean and will support him statements made a few months ago when he praised Dean. I doubt with Trippi as Deans campaign manager, the Clintons love him.

And since Clark is a lot closer to the Clintons than Dean, it would be mre likely that Clarks is trying to whack Trippi for the CLintons, than support Dean.

And it was Clinton who got him to Be Supreme Allied Commander in Western Europe. His loyalties lie with Clinton, and against Trippi.

Political vendettas are common, even in the U.S. Especially in the U.S.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nicholas_J]

20. They would and they will

Trippi started years of problem for the Clintons, and they are not above vengence. No one is, even your little Howie would veto legislation because he was pissed off at a politician sponsoring it.

[ProfessorPlum]

19. "Political vendettas are common"

They are certainly not hard to find around here.