Clark gains support among traditional liberals, independent centrists

[Jerseycoa]

EVEN BEFORE Saddam Hussein’s capture this weekend, buzz was building among the political cognoscenti that Retired General Wesley Clark would emerge as the anti–Howard Dean. Al Gore’s surprise endorsement of the former Vermont governor last week solidified Dean’s status as the candidate to beat — and, in a weird way, may also have helped Clark. An Associated Press analysis of the race after Gore’s endorsement noted that Dean is now saddled with the burden of increased expectations. Therefore, if Clark finishes strong in next month’s New Hampshire primary, he can claim victory even if Dean wins. Also last week, Chuck Todd, editor-in-chief of the Hotline, pegged Clark as the candidate with the best chance of stopping Dean, arguing that Clark, as the field’s only non-politician, can present an outsider message that surpasses Dean’s. And in the blogosphere, Talking Points Memo’s Joshua Micah Marshall argued that Gore’s endorsement will help Clark by making it harder for Dick Gephardt and John Kerry to win in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively, hastening the advent of a Dean-Clark race.

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Source: Boston Phoenix