Question for Dean and Clark supporters

[chookie]

It is my assessment that the nomination has been narrowed down to two candidates: Howard Dean and Wesley Clark.

If this is accurate, how do you see the rest of the campaign proceeding? How will they conduct themselves if they become rivals? What strategies should they employ?

My prediction is that it is going to be extremely civil. It will be very "adult." They will calmly discuss and debate their policy differences and approaches to solving problems that they agree are very serious and must be confronted. They will be mutually supportive, and will attempt to prevail by force of persuasion, not virtual assassination.

Any thoughts?

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. They will argue over which one of them would run the war more efficiently

Clark will have an advantage for some simply because he is a general, but Dean has more money.

On edit. I crashed this thread. I do not support any of the candidates.

[chookie]

6. This was really just meant for Dean and Clark supporters

I have admiration and respect for all of the candidates, and for their supporters.

However, if I had intended discussion of the relative merit of all of them, I would have posted as such. My post clearly states that it is for persons who support Clark or/and Dean

I have not always succeeded, but I have tried to show respect for the differing views here. I read the various opinions very carefully, and care deeply about what others are thinking, even if I do not share their views. But this is not a thread to try to challenge my support of these two candidates.

[DuctapeFatwa]

9. LOL I apologize for reading your post more carefully than your title

I understand that it is a practice that is looked down on by many.

It was not my intention to challenge anyone's support of anybody.

I realize that many people have very special feelings for one or more of the candidates :)

[mopinko]

2. sure hope so

not sure you can count of gephardt, just cuz he has some deep resources. nto that i think he will win, just that he will hang on for a while. and i don't think he will like your plan.

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. I can only speak for my candidate

who has been remarkably civil towards the other Dems, refusing to take the bait that is constantly thrown to him by various interviewers.

Meanwhile, he has been nailing bush's butt to the wall on issues across the board.

[chookie]

4. That's one of many reasons I now "Bark for Clark"

Not only is this guy smart as a whip, capable of thinking on his feet, extraordinarily articulate and well-spoken, a great mixture of pragmatism and idealism, is not only capable of turning around the Bush juggernaut that is steering our great nation into disaster but has his own creative vision of exploring new opportunities for American industry and technology which will re-establish America as the leader in enterprise, takes to heart what Eisenhower warned America about the military-industrial complex and will confront it, and nails the Bush bastards to the wall for their lies and crimes powerfully and effectively (I could go on and on, of course) -- BUT as you point out, he has been a gentleman and has stood out and distinguished himself from his competitors by the civility he has shown them.

General Clark is going to pull this off for us. He's got what it takes.

[IndianaGreen]

5. I would be relieved if the race ends up with Dean and Clark

That scenario is far preferable than having one the candidates that voted for IWR as the nominee, which would create some serious problems if the nominee refuses to withdraw troops from Iraq, and wants to keep PATRIOT Act.

[mermaid]

8. So Would I

...as long as...in the end DEAN gets the nod.

[democratreformed]

7. All I can say is

that I hope you are right.

[NV1962]

10. Mutual support maybe, and certainly nailing B* to the wall

Whoever picks up the nomination will be running to defeat B* and what he did to the country.

That's the grand national prize, to be delivered in a landslide.

To get there, we need a cogent, cohesive and compelling campaign, which precludes self-destructive tactics, such as repeats of the somniferous VP debates, last time round.

What I mean is this: it's the non-voters, above all, who need to be awakened, inspired and energized enough to reclaim government from the fundie/neocon junta.

And to get there, civil and respectful ain't enough.

Frankly, whether it's the "good doctor" or the "clean-cut general" in the end, that's an issue to be decided by the support base and its projection.

Until then, I'd like to see what I'd call a parallel strategy: Dean and Clark each carrying their own campaign with little time lost on each other, and instead 98% concentrated on removing the current squatters from the WH.

A double-whammy that'll leave B* unemployed with two black eyes.

[robbedvoter]

11. Clark will win.

dean supporters will have to examine their conscience. All opposition to W will rally around Clark. He will win, as Shields, Rangel predicted.

> "Nobody believed me when I said Hillary Clinton would be the next
> senator from New York. And nobody believes me now. But Wesley Clark
> will be the next president of the United States."
>
> -- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.)
>
> Last paragraph
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10368-2003Sep14.html
>

[Larkspur]

13. Clark is a doppleganger

and if he wins the nomination, he will get my vote, but he will NEVER EVER get any of my money or my time to help on his campaign. I don't trust him and never will.

Anyway, Clark is a horrible campaigner and boring speaker. Saw him on C-Span the other night and after seeing his pathetic performance, my conclusion is that Bush will make mince meat out of him.

[Clark4VotingRights]

12. I see Clark's brilliance, poise, debating skills, toughness, and resume

Prevailing.
(Tho' Dean has considerable credibility on health care issues
because he's a physician.)

[newyawker99]

18. Hi Clark4VotingRights!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MercutioATC]

14. I see Dean and Gephardt...

I think Gep will finish strong enough in Iowa to gain some staying power. After Iowa and N.H., I think Clark will be an "also-ran".

2nd or 3rd place in every primary will NOT get you the nomination, and I think Clark will have to WORK to get that ranking in the "important" primaries.

[NV1962]

15. Clinton had to work it, too

Two words: two terms. :)

[MercutioATC]

16. You're absolutely right. Clark is a great candidate too..

I haven't gotten the same clarity in domestic policy that Dean gives me, but Clark has plenty of time to hash out specifics.

I'm 100% ABB. If that's Clark, that's great. I'm still with Dean, though, and I feel he's the stronger candidate (I'm admittedly biased)

[BobbyJay]

17. The longer the other candidates stay in, the more it hurts Clark.

Clark has a legit shot at winning in places like Missouri, if Gephardt drops out by then. Clark has a good shot in places like SC, OK, CA, ND, AZ, GA, FL, MS, VA etc.