What happens if Clark gets only third in NH?

[DJcairo]

Let me know. I can't figure this one out.

Will he be weakened going into the Feb. states? Can Dean stop Clark from overtaking him for second in the coming days.? Does Kerry have a lock on 1st in NH?

[adamrsilva]

1. Clark needs second

or it will be as disappointing as Dean's showing in Iowa.

[Skwmom]

10. Hardly - two of the candidates are from neighboring states. e/o/m

[Jack_Dawson]

2. It's a Victory

Dean and Kerry have served neighboring states for a long, long time. Clark is a political rookie from Arkansas. I like 3rd place a lot.

[Capn Sunshine]

12. To the Clark campaign, no matter what happens, it's a victory

He learned this in Vietnam while espousing the government line there

(THERE'S your foreign policy experience!)

[Jack_Dawson]

13. More so, than say...Dean placing third in Iowa and melting down

right afterwards. Clark's third would look a lot better than that.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. NH is Clark's "Iowa" (as Kerry used Iowa)

He needs a strong showing there. He is not a favorite son so he has an excuse to lose to Dean and Kerry, but he needs a strong showing- maybe 25%?

[lovedems]

4. I think he should go to the south. I think he will do good down there.

Not only will southern voters like him because he is from the south, I think he will get alot of veterans votes as well. Don't southern's just love decorated veterans?

[JI7]

5. third is ok for him. he needs to show well in south carolina

because it's the part of the country (the south) where he is from. same goes for edwards. this is also why dean and kerry need to do well in new hampshire.it's their part of the country.

[reprehensor]

6. CNN (the fountain of truth) said...

No Candidate who hasn't been in the top two in NH, has ever made it to Nominee.

Any takers on that? I'm just parroting what I heard.

[Jack_Dawson]

9. CNN also employs Candi Crowley

Bob Novak, Tucker Carlson and Judy Woodruff. Who cares?

[RandomUser]

7. Clark will be fine in third

Second will give him major momentum for beating either of the top two New Englanders in their backyard. Third will have him neutral -- not as much momentum but not hurting either -- as long as he finishes ahead of Edwards.

Clark, like Edwards, has the southern states coming up, where pressure will be on them for strong wins, just as pressure is on Kerry and Dean for wins in NH. It's the whole "home advantage" thing and expectations.

[Jerseycoa]

8. Third's good

We orginally saw him in fourth, so third is definitely better. But second is best. Clark's challenge is not Dean and never has been. His challenge, now that Kerry's come back, is Kerry; and to a lesser extent Edwards, if his Iowa performance brings steam for him into NH, and if they move into home territory close together.

[Bertrand]

11. Anything less than a top 3 showing would hurt Clark

especially since it would probably mean that Edwards placed higher. If Clark were to get a top 2 finish, i think it would help him with momentum going into the south because it would mean that he either beat Kerry, with the Mo out of Iowa, or Dean and his large campaign organizaition.

[Jack_Dawson]

14. Kick

:kick:

[JI7]

15. unless it's lieberman

if first second and third places go to dean,kerry, and lieberman in any order it will be ok because they are all new englanders.