Is Clark dead if he finishes 5th in NH?

[ringmastery]

Clark is creeping down in the polls. Lieberman is creeping upward. It's possible Lieberman may finish 4th, ahead of Clark, with Edwards in third.

Actually, 3rd-5th place is very, very, fluid. It could end up in any order.

[Mass_Liberal]

1. it would be very bad

but it won't happen. I have faith in Lieberman to be a whiny, annoying, and wholly unattractive candidate.

[RageAgainstTheirMachine]

2. yes

but it won't happen

[jmaier]

3. I think that

both 2-3rd and 3rd-5th are pretty fluid.

No, a 5th place finish doesn't end Clark's campaign but it will probably depress his Feb 3rd results and no win on Feb 3rd puts him into a very difficult position.

Of course, I think he will be 2nd or 3rd in NH and will win several states on Feb 3rd!

[pinkpops]

4. does you chewing gum lose its flavor

on the bedpost over night?

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I assume that he will continue

He certainly has the money and organization in future primary/caucus states to continue at that point, for how long I do not know.

[rocketdem]

6. No, I don't think so.

The media may declare him to be dead, but he has national stature. If it stays tight and it becomes a delegate counting exercise beyond 3 Feb, then he has just as much of a shot as anyone.

[Cheswick2.0]

7. yes

Yes I think he is. He doesn't have the money to continue like Dean would in that situation.
I hear many republicans are voting for Kerry because that is who bush wants to run against in Nov. I have no doubt that is true. I think Clark is going to be driven from the race for that reason.

[arewethereyet]

8. dead as a doornail if its not a close 2nd or better

his entire campaign has been directed toward making a stand there. No excuse for not winning except that his message does not resonate.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. What are you talking about?

"his entire campaign has been directed toward making a stand there"

That is so far from accurate, it's amazing :crazy:

[arewethereyet]

17. he skipped Iowa to concentrate on NH

thats not a stand for someone purported to be a major player ?

of course he had to attand to 2/3/4 primaried but it was on the basis of a strong pushoff in NH.

And all hes done there is spend money and fizzle.

[texasmom]

9. It's not going to happen

but, if it did, and 3rd-5th or 2nd-5th were very close in votes/percentages, it wouldn't matter at all. Clark has $$$$ and a great organization across the south and southwest. He's in good shape for the long haul.

[overground1]

11. Yes is it quite possible Clark may finish below Lieberman

and let's hope that is the end of the line when he does.

[mndemocrat_29]

12. Yes

But it won't happen

It'll probably end up:

Kerry
Dean
Clark
Edwards

(though, as a note, I'd like to point out I got the top four at Iowa backwards)

[Padraig18]

13. Dead? No.

It won't look too good, but he won't be 'dead' by any means. Everyone was ready to shovel dirt in on Howard early this wekk, and look what's happening now; he MIGHT pull out a 'squeaker', if things break his way.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

14. Absolutely not. Clark is NOT from the East Coast - he was never

expected to do well. Where he would be hurt is if he doesn't well in the Feb 3 primaries. He is ahead is those states AND has plenty of money. In addition, he also has organizations in every state - something Kerry and Edwards do NOT have.

[mikehiggins]

15. Finishing behind Lieberman would be disappointing.

Finishing behind Edwards could be a problem.

Losing to the two favorite son candidates from Vermont and Massachusetts, one backed by Gore and the other by Ted Kennedy? Not really so bad.

I don't expect to see Gore or Kennedy in South Carolina, though they may make an effort in Missouri.

It is my understanding that Clark will stay in the race until there is a clear winner, or until the convention.

With a field this big I don't see anyone leaving before Feb 10 or so and then the quitter's delegates, I believe, become the equivalent of super-delegates. I'm only vaguely sure of that particular part of it though so if I'm wrong, don't hurt me.

I am often wrong but rarely in doubt.

[robbedvoter]

16. He won't. But the way expectations have been set, he can do no wrong

in NH. CNN has put Lieberman above him ("joementum) for goodness sake..I know they don't believe their lies, but someone does, and someone will be surprised on Tuesday.