What will be Clark's next move if he finishes 3rd or 4th in NH ?

[kentuck]

As we know from Iowa, those kind of things can happen. If it does, does the General continue in the race, going down South and out West? Or does he pull a Gephardt and drop out of the race? I know that is unfathomable to his supporters, as it is to any other candidate, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

If he did drop out, who would he endorse? Would he endorse his fellow military man, John Kerry? Or would he endorse the new face, John Edwards? What does the next 3 weeks hold for the General? Any comments?

[returnable]

1. Clark has a boatload of cash and organization...

...to carry him past NH, regardless of where he finishes.

Clark is actually pretty well set for a long primary season. Is Kerry? Edwards? :shrug:

[Kathleen04]

2. He definately continues through

the February 3rd states, I think he'll have strength in those states.

Unlike Gephardt, Clark has the $$ to keep going..

[jmaier]

3. I think the Clark campaign

bets were on good showings in SC, AZ, NM, OK and the hope for a solid place in NH (i.e., 3rd). I don't think that they'll be folding up and going away unless they get wiped off the board on Feb 3rd.

[Phelan]

4. Clark was expect to finish 3rd so a 3rd place finish would be a par

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. It won't end his campaign

But he is going to have to win one of the the February 3 primaries if he is going to be a credible candidate.

[Frederic Bastiat]

6. Clark is well positioned in the South

Mainly because his organization is finally taking shape despite the late entry into the race. I'm looking for a strong showing in NH, maybe 2nd or 3rd and probably on to take SC.

[Mz Pip]

7. He'll keep going

His strength will be in the South. I can see him doing much better in the South than Kerry.

MzPip
:dem:

[Democrats unite]

8. I don't believe Wesley Clark will even consider dropping out...

Until at least Super Tuesday. I believe Clark will finish in NH 2nd or third & getting such a late start in the campaign that pretty damn good.

As to who would he support? Thats up to him, my 2nd choice is Kerry, Edwards is looking good also.

Now take someone that has run a race for over a year & then only take 18% of the vote, NH is crucial for Dean another bad showing will be hard for him to come back from.

[deminflorida]

9. Clark's Campaign is about Feb. 3rd thru Super Tuesday and

beyond into the heartland. I don't think anyone can follow him there now. This election is about who America elects, and that means the Average Voter. There will be no selection, the general democratic population will decide.

[LTR]

10. He's considered pretty strong in the south

Watch out for Super Tuesday.

[abburdlen]

11. don't forget Missouri

back in play. Clark will be the only candidate to be in top three of each of the Feb 3rd primaries

[KittyWampus]

12. Clark Is Out Manuevering Democrats and Republicans Alike

The GOP is heavily influencing the Primaries and Clark's Campaign is aware of this and working with it.

His OVERALL Organization is unmatched.

Too many people spend too much time reacting to the Mediawhores... the news isn't on the wires.

[BOSSHOG]

13. Therefore it may be realistic to surmise

that General Clark may WIN New Hampshire. Dean was supposed to win Iowa which is now being characterized as an overrated pulse of Americana. What might New Hampshire be characterized as next Wednesday?

[Leilani]

15. I don't know about that

I heard he has a bad organization in New Hampshire...no get out the vote effort.
Until recently, they wern't even getting names & info from people at his rallies.

But he's in it for the long haul...he has the money, & I think will do better outside of New England.

[KoKo]

28. Kick!

:kick:

[Maddy McCall]

14. The south, my friend, the south

And he will win state after state on Southern Tuesday. :-)

[incapsulated]

16. It's all about Super Tuesday

A strong second in NH would be great, but even if he comes in 3rd or 4th it's not over till the Southland sings. That's our hand, we play it, and win or lose with it.

[democratreformed]

17. Keep himself and his supporters working hard

for the major races ahead.

[KLA2004]

18. he will get at least 2nd

probably

[goodhue]

19. hope he wins SC

and if he looses to Edwards as I suspect he will, I think he may be done.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. If Edwards loses SC, he is done

Clark could win some other states and still survive.

[windansea]

21. my analysis

[chaska]

22. It will be, in order, Clark, Dean, Kerry in NH.

The Iowa vote for Kerry and Edwards was really a vote for Clark. If Clark had been running in Iowa the two above would have finished much lower.

[democracy eh]

23. he's got the $$$$ and the gravitas

with the late start and skipping that wonderfully. folksy, democratic enterprise ( I was glued to the two streams of CSPAN all night) (but a money pit none the less) (especially if you don't win) known as the Iowa caucuses,the General is in a hell of a good cash position.

Kerry and Clark are both going to shake the Dean tree and get some apples. I should add the media to the mix . they smell blood and potential to manufacture a hell of a story. "The rise and fall of Howard Dean and the movement". "the internet campaign that mirrored the tech bubble" its got nothing to do with Repug media. it is just sensation. Iowa shattered a bunch of Dean myths. I should add I wish no ill on Dean, just stating observations.

If I were Edwards I would put in enough appearances in NH to keep my face in the news, but he just doesn't have enough presence there to gamble with a potentially 'below expectations' result. "Will Edwards repeat Iowa's surprise finish? focus on SC.

So Wes will finish minimum a very close third (I think there will be only 5 -8 points separating 1st and 3rd . Dean has a hardcore, to the death 20 percent so it will be competitive.

man I would give my left nut to be in NH for the primary. it is going to be a late night

but it is a LOOOOONG week with a critical debate right in the middle, so ANYTHING can and will happen.

[OKNancy]

24. He will be just fine

It is the Feb. 3rd states that will make or break him.
South Carolina is not the only state to be won either. There is Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and now Missouri is ripe for the neighbor Clark. ( I'm leaving some states out, I'm sure)

Just a note....Kerry has not been to Oklahoma one single time. No ads either.

[Clark4Prez]

25. Keep on going

I think that should Clark come in third or fourth, that he should at least go until Super Tuesday and see how he positions with everyone else.

If he is far behind without a hope of catching up, he should drop out for the sake of the party.

Who I would support from there would depend on who's left. But, as always I am ABB!

[arewethereyet]

26. back to hawking military gizmos like a good general should

and what would his endorsement be worth ?

[Hoppin_Mad]

27. Yup - Back to Acxiom but with higher lobbying fees -nt-

[arewethereyet]

29. or perhaps lower, he will have lost some lustre

but I'd settle for his old compensation package !

[David Dunham]

30. hari kari (just kidding)

[DrBB]

31. 3rd is fine, 4th is not so

Dunno why you merge the two together. Given his financial position, his presumed southern strength, and the expectations as they've been running, a third is okay for Clark. Not great, but he'll keep running. If Edwards beats him to second, that's bad news because that will give Edwards the edge moving south. But if it's Dean and Kerry ahead of him, then the south is still wide open for him, though Edwards will still be in the running.