How did Clark lose ground in NH?

[fujiyama]

Why has Clark's campaign seemingly stalled in NH? Was it mainly the bounce Kerry got from IA?

Also, I've been sort of dissapointed in Clark's performance in the debate and in various TV performances. I wish he handled it better, because it was obvious the media would be after him.

I really like Clark and would think he would make a great president...Also, he's come a long way, starting so late....

Still, it seems like his lack of campaign experience has hurt him a bit, as has the fact that he hasn't been inside the party too long.

Oh well, either way I wish him and his supporters the best of luck...because it'll only get tougher once he's facing Edwards in SC and both Kerry and Edwards in the various other states...not to mention Dean, who is running stronger in NH...

[AnnitaR]

1. About the debates...

I would challenge anyone to go back to all of the debates and see how many times Clark got a real policy question. He was never given a shot in those debates.

He has been either ignored or smeared by the media for the most part. He is constantly ruled out as having any hope of winning. They did it to him when Dean was the anointed one and they are doing it now that Kerry is the anointed one.

Most people in this country don't know that they can't trust the media. They are like sheep.

The media is driving this election for us and there are so few in this country who realize it.

[isbister]

6. I agree about the real shot in this last one

He has made some rookie mistakes from the beginning and because the spotlight was on him right away the media was right there to pick everything right up.

The media does do things that steer but Clark and Dean have to own up to mistakes they made. Completely skipping Iowa, or even the Iowa denbates, was a big big mistake for Clark.

They are like sheep

They are. Name the number one cable news station, case closed.

[blm]

20. The media is doing to him now what they did to Kerry for months.

They marginalized and declared irrelevant both Kerry and Edwards for months. That dried up their fundraising.

They worked through it and survived. Clark can, too.

[mmonk]

21. I agree that he isn't asked policy questions

and more questions are focused on him that have nothing to do with his stands. He is attacked by the dems as not being enough of a democrat also. So the voters are going back to politicians. America is still way to scared to look at itself in the mirror. They want to go back to dem candidates that tell them just what they want to hear. The real power in politics today is the media, right leaning ideology and the DLC.

[HFishbine]

22. Questions asked of Clark in the last debate

(accurately paraphrased)

1) Can you be an effective leader with regard to the party's platform?

2) Is your lack of experience within the party an asset?

3) What are you guranteeing in the way of preventing future 9/11 type attack?

4) Do you think it would have been a better example of ethical behavior to repudiate Michael Moore's "desserter" claim?

5) Does lobbying for Acxiom to create CAPPS II step over the line of the civil liberties you claim to want to protect?

6) When did you first notice you were a democrat?

7) Could a reader of your Times of London article not justifiably concluded that you were for the war?

8) Can you clarify your pro-choice position on abortion and describe how you reconcile that with Catholic doctrine?

9) Explain whether or not you believe a woman has the right to choose until the end, basically even in the eighth and ninth month. What is your clear and simple answer to that?

There were indeed only a couple of policy questions and a few more questions that a more expereinced campaigner would have answered with a discussion of policy. The others may not have seemed fair to Clark supporters, but they were questions the electorate was wondering about.

[mmonk]

23. I'm not looking for an experienced politician

but I guess people had rather have that than really knowing about where Clark stands overall on the issues. So they are given in to the smear campaign.

[LoneStarLiberal]

2. Iowa and the Debate

The Kerry-Edwards finish in Iowa was the worst possible scenario for Clark since Clark-Kerry-Edwards share a good bit of ideological ground both campaign-wise (centrist) and in terms of supporters, particularly for vets in terms of Kerry and Clark.

I think Clark could have staunched the temporary loss of ground if it hadn't been for that horrid debate. Being on the defensive the entire time didn't give him much ground to talk policy and talk New American Patriotism.

Those two factors and a brilliantly-managed spin control campaign by the Dean campaign really hurt Clark's standing in New Hampshire.

I'll still be voting for him in Texas, though! And working for the campaign as long as there's a campaign.

[dickperle]

3. it was the sweaters

the real answer is that clark was the anti dean


once they saw the hometown boy (kerry) become viable, the "not sold on clark(but liked better than dean)" vote went to kerry

[Old and In the Way]

9. I think that's it exactly.

NH is Kerry/Dean territory. Clark definitely was hurt by Kerry's comeback in Iowa. Clark's real test is in SC. If Kerry finishes strong in NH, Clark's problems may well continue.

Regardless, I admire the man greatly. I truly hope that if he's not the nominee, he is engaged by the next Democratic administration as Defense Secretary. I think he is particularly suited by career and temprement to effect serious reform and re-prioritization of the Pentagon's agenda. He is the perfect replacement to fumigate the Pentagon and get rid of the neo-con influence that is warping US international policy.

I hope he fires Meyer's ass on day one.

[BootinUp]

11. I don't expect he will do that

Clark had a career already. He is trying to set the direction for the country, not start a second career. He will go back to Arkansas, and Bush will stay in Wash 4 more years.

[Bread and Circus]

17. Clark's real test is in the South/West, not just SC

[andym]

5. Very astute

Yes, this analysis is very good.
Agree 100%

[LiberalBushFan]

4. Definitely the debates.

Those finishing ahead of him will owe a great deal of the success to Fox News.
Edit: except for Howard Dean.

[isbister]

7. He "vacationed" in New Hampshire

while the other candidates were in Iowa and when the game came to NH the pace had picked up tremendously since Clark last played.

He should have at least joined the Iowa debates.

[krkaufman]

8. 1-for-2

> "vacationed"

Disagree.


> He should have at least joined the Iowa debates.

Agree; strongly.

[robbedvoter]

10. About the same time you stopped beating your wife...

Careful with buying the Faux&al script. It may turn back and bite you!

[waldenx]

12. NH people see through his charade

and thankfully so. I imagine his remaining support is 95% "independents" or disgruntled repubs. Just a hypothesis.

[SheilaT]

13. He had NH all to himself

for the last several weeks. Once Iowa was over and the rest of the candidates started serious campaigning there, NH voters got to see them close up and many of them clearly were impressed by someone else.

[adadem]

14. Clark was my

second choice for the longest time but it appears, imho, that his lack of political experience is showing. I hate the fact that political and campaigning experience are so important to represent your country but that certainly seems to be the case.

[mdmc]

15. Michael Jordan and baseball

Clark never ran for office, now he is running for the top office.

[Bread and Circus]

16. Because the "stop Dean" vote has went to Kerry...

[John_H]

18. Bewtcha he finishes 4-7 pts. above ehre he's polling.

I'm guessing this because the polling done by the busily chimp-saving media have him way below the polling companies' polls.

[xultar]

19. Kerry's win in IA tapped Clark's support umong men & veterans

Kerry's momentum is directly related to Clarks dip in the polls.

[krkaufman]

24. Prepare for boost

If Kerry is caught by Dean, and as his "don't *need* the South" comment gets around, Clark may benefit.