How will the recent news affect Clark tonight on Hardball?

[slinkerwink]

I expect Tweety to "twitter" about this, and I'll be watching Clark with interest. If he responds well, then he's got my respect. I have to give major kudos to Clark supporters for being so gracious about Gore's endorsement of Dean.

[quinnox]

1. Is Hardball live?

If it is taped, there won't be any comment.

[HFishbine]

2. One Word: Grace

If he's asked about it, watch and see grace in action. Clark will find a way to address with issue with grace and class, in a way that doesn't belittle Gore or Dean.

[mikehiggins]

3. Not so fast, Slinker ;^)

To quote myself from another thread:

"what difference does it(the Gore endorsement) make beyond that (the primarys)? It doesn't change Dean or his perception among the voters, though it may lead more of the party pros to jump on board. That should satisfy those who really thought Dean represented something new and innovative in politics. Same old, same old.

Or as the Who used to sing, "here comes the new boss, same as the old boss"

Us ABB folks in the Clark camp support the candidate we feel has the best possible chance to eke out a win over an incumbent president in a time of war. The Gore endorsement of Dean does nothing to change that.

I am surprised that Gore didn't endorse the man he chose for his own running mate, but that's politics, I guess. Nothing succeeds like success. Same old, same old.

I would suggest to our Deaniac friends that a man who managed to lose his own state to an illiterate clown from Texas with no credentials at all, is hardly the political guru of the ages.

I like Al Gore but if he had run a decent campaign in 2000 the Supreme Court's role would have been limited to swearing him in. Instead he frittered away state after state, and what happened happened.

Now he's back. Good luck, Howie!

[wtmusic]

4. Clark will be the perfect gentleman

as always.

The endorsement is very exciting news, but it's easy to get ahead of ourselves. Clark has a helluva lot of support.

[slinkerwink]

8. I know and we can't afford to discount that support that Clark has

[TexasPatriot]

5. i'm interested too...

hey - gore's endorsement is big. it was the lead on all 3 networks - and all of them consider it something of a major blow to all the other campaigns. I'm surprised Gore came out so early, much less supported a non-DLC candidate.

So now Dean is going to be the frontrunner. That means he's going to get front-runner bad press from the news, and everyone will start taking him on - so tonight might be the first time we actually see Clark take a real swing at Dean (rather than the joking ones we've seen to this point).

I wish it were someone like Kerry, or Lieberman, or Gephardt - all guys who really had relationships with Gore - but we'll probably see some of that tomorrow during the debate.

One things for sure - tomorrow night is going to be important. A lot of people who haven't picked a candidate yet, and are now suddenly energized by Gore's endorsement, will be coming in leaning Dean and paying attention. He's going to need to win that debate to solidify that support.

[slinkerwink]

6. wow, I hadn't thought of that---only that the other Dem candidates

will be taking heavy potshots at Dean.

[Snellius]

7. He'll have to pull out all the stops

It's clear that the message for any Democratic candidate is go for broke.

[RummyTheDummy]

9. Clark will blow his brains out live on the air....

Then maybe the Deanies will finally be truly at peace with the world.

[maddezmom]

10. Clark is cool under pressure....

but of course I won't be able to see the darn thing. Have to wait for the transcript. :)

[slinkerwink]

11. Clark just entered, a lot of applause and cheers

There's a brave smile on his face---doesn't look jazzed by the recent news.

[slinkerwink]

12. Clark just said he voted for republicans because they were strong

on leadership and national security. ouch.

[slinkerwink]

13. Clark just said that he wasn't paying to endorsements unless they

were for him.

[maddezmom]

14. fair reply

thanks for the updates. :)

[slinkerwink]

17. no problem!

[slinkerwink]

15. Matthews talking about Clintons

so far, Clark has good responses and has held up well.

[Cush]

16. shut up Tweety.....

All Clinton, all the time

[slinkerwink]

18. yep, he has a fixation with them

[TexasPatriot]

19. well, so far

he's been given opportunities to go after dean and rather than going negative against dean, has gone positive for himself. it's a difficult line, but it looks like he's going to continue to play above the fray. of course, we've got another 45 minutes to go... and tweety is really trying to bait him.

[AlinPA]

20. I look for a two person race very soon.

But, I'd like to keep these others in to carry the message around the country.

[Field Of Dreams]

21. Clark has carried the weight of the world on his shoulders

during his career. Tweety is just another "gnat" journalist that he'll bat aside.

(edited)