Clark gaining in New Hampshire as Dean and other rivals focus on Iowa

[maddezmom]

Clark gaining in New Hampshire as Dean and other rivals focus on Iowa

TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, January 13, 2004

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(01-13) 23:12 PST MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) --

While political attention is riveted on Iowa, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark is closing the once-commanding lead that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean had in New Hampshire.

The tightening of the New Hampshire race has prompted Dean to revise his strategy and is injecting new energy into the retired Army general's campaign.

Clark is not competing in the kickoff Iowa caucuses on Jan. 19 and instead is focusing much of his energy and attention on New Hampshire's Jan. 27 primary.


~snip~


Meanwhile, the Dean campaign, concerned that Clark is closing the gap in New Hampshire in a week in which the other major candidates are focusing on Iowa, plan to deploy surrogates and other campaign tactics to question Clark's shifting views on the war, ties to the Republican Party, commitment to abortion rights and special interest connections.

Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for Clark in New Hampshire, said the Dean campaign was getting nervous. "Clearly, they're hearing our footsteps, and they're resorting to the tired, old politics of attacks," he said.
~snip~

More: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/13/politics0159EST0430.DTL

[Catch22Dem]

1. I guess if you can't beat 'em

attack 'em. :eyes: Besides, Dean know he has NH locked. I think the Dean campaign is afraid of Clark coming in a strong 2nd and carrying that momentum into SC, OK, AZ and the other states. Reasoning? Because you better believe if Clark is the clear runner-up in NH, he's going to be the media darling for weeks.

[maxanne]

2. how dare anyone

question Clark's shifting views? :eyes:

Get ready for much, much worse than this, Clark supporters. The General is not immune from being questioned or attacked.

As for the assertions in this article - I don't see it happening up north. In Berlin, NH - over 200 people turned out to see Dean last Saturday. When Clark came a-calling, about 25 folks showed up.

Clark never ventured above Concord until December. His failure to acknowledge the north country is going to hurt him.

[Catch22Dem]

3. Yes, 2nd place ahead of Kerry in NH

proves his campaign is hurting him. LOL. As far as the attacks by the Dean camp, well I would say "bring 'em on" but only morans say that, so I'll just say, "let's have a spirited debate." ;)

[maxanne]

4. your original

unedited first post said it all, Catch22. "If you can't beat 'em, attack 'em." Is the General somehow immune from being questioned about his views? As far as I know the Lady of the Lake hasn't handed him a sword. There are going to be questions - and lots of them. No wonder he's been avoiding debates. There are questions waiting to be asked that won't cast the general in a good light.

Better toughen up. Better get ready to stop sniveling. The attacks are only just beginning. Assume that the General gets the nomination. Think about how it's going to look when the Bushistas start running ads about Clark getting fired from his long "distinguished" career, by a Democratic Prez. What you're seeing now is child's play in comparison.

[maddezmom]

6. I know you addressed Catch22, but here's my response

you're are right, it going to get a lot rougher over the next few weeks and month. No one is above critizing another candidate....and goes for all of them.

[kayleybeth]

5. Here's another poll

This Boston Herald poll has Dean at 29% in NH and Clark at 20%.
(The margin of error is +/- 4.9% so take it for what it's worth)

I'm not breaking out the champagne just yet but the trends are looking good :-)

Surging: Herald poll: Clark soars, Kerry fades in N.H.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark has surged to within striking range of Howard Dean in the New Hampshire primary, narrowing Dean's once-gaping lead to nine points as the race enters its home stretch, a new Boston Herald poll shows.

Buoyed by strong support among moderates and men who favor his Army resume and tempered views over Dean's ideological bombast, Clark has outpaced Sen. John F. Kerry as Dean's chief New Hampshire hurdle.

"Clark is the one candidate that really seems to have some momentum now," said Herald pollster R. Kelly Myers.

Relentless attacks on Dean by Kerry and U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman have hurt the former Vermont governor, pulling him down to 29 percent with Clark at 20 percent in the poll.

more:
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/national.bg?articleid=503