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.

continues...

Source: Boston Phoenix

[KaraokeKarlton]

1. Wow, I just started a thread along these lines a little while ago!

I got to thinking that the race for the nomination is going to come down to a Dean vs. Kerry or Clark final battle. I don't think either Clark or Kerry (with so many in the race) are going to be able to take Dean out as the frontrunner UNLESS one of them somehow manages to knock the other out of contention. Obviously I still think Dean is going to win, but I don't think either one of them can even compete unless either Kerry or Clark somehow manages to eliminate the other and emerge as the "Anti-Dean" candidate. I think we're going to see Kerry and Clark start focusing on fighting each other to see which one will get the chance to fight my guy.

[centrist]

2. Dean may stumble yet

Kerry can't pick up the South or the Midwet. The test for Dean will be when he starts trying to woo the voters in the South and Midwest.

[dajabr]

3. South and Midwest

I don't know...the numbers I've seen have Dean doing well in those areas.

And, will 3rd place in NH get Clark through to Super Tues?

[Phelan]

4. Clark will get second place

The margin of error in the ARG poll is such that Clark hasn't lost or gained support and Kerry has not gained that large of a percentage...especially since there are another 3 or 4 weeks till the primary and I'm sure either campaign will start a TV blitz pretty soon.

[dajabr]

5. Clark's already been running ads...

And I read an article today that they were not well rated.

Is Clark making a hard move for the Veterans, or has Kerry got that locked up already?

[Justice]

6. Link to Article, please?

[Jerseycoa]

7. It's up there nt

[dajabr]

10. "...suffering from confusing and poorly-rated television advertising"

quoted here: http://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/dem/

[hedda_foil]

14. I've had the same reaction to Clark's ads.

It wasn't worth starting a thread over because it's such a matter of personal taste, but the Clark ads I've seen present him as if he's running for general rather than president. Perhaps that's his strategy to beat Kerry for 2nd in NH. It doesn't seem to be working, though. With Dean running so high and Clark a better stop Dean candidate in the South, a stronger ad campaign vis-a-vis Kerry on the issues would make more sense to me tactically for him ... especially since Kerry doesn't seem to be guarding his flank against Clark.

If nothing else, it's an interesting campaign to say the least.

[mikehiggins]

19. Pretty much definately

It will take something really crippling to slow Clark down, like coming in behind Lieberman or something like that. There is no way he would drop out before Super Tuesday at any rate (he may have the second biggest pot-a-cash among the Democratic candidates) but I doubt he'll quit until Dean gets enough delegates to win on a first ballot.

If Dean doesn't have the nomination in hand when he walks into the convention I doubt he'll leave with it.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi centrist!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[glarius]

8. As a non-American can I say that Clark is the one who worries the Repubs.

more than any other?....Even the media (which has been gung ho for Bush and his war) is scared of Clark....They almost NEVER mention him as a serious contender...They talk about Dean or any of the others but they ignore Clark!...Why?....I think it's because they know that disenchanted Republicans and independents will go for Clark because of his distinguished military record!....IMO

[grannylib]

9. I agree, part of the reason they did not allow Clark's testimony at the

Hague to be televised. National security my a$$...it was to deny Clark huge positive publicity. Chimpy can't hold a candle to Clark and they all know it.

[robbedvoter]

12. Ssssst! It was supposed to be our little secret! In the media's rush

to ignore Clark, they are setting up a great come back story (much as we have been here all along). First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win!

[mzmolly]

13. Clark was against the war right?

He and Dean were on the same side I thought? :shrug:

[HFishbine]

15. Your Headline

is totaly unsupported by the article. There is nothing offered to substantiate the claim that Clark has gained support among "traditional liberals" or "independent centrists."

[Jerseycoa]

18. From the article title

"General dynamics
Democratic presidential contender Wesley Clark is gaining support among both traditional liberals and more independent centrists. Can he bring them together, especially now that Saddam is under arrest?"

If it's misleading, sue the Boston Phoenix.

[HFishbine]

20. So

You acknowledge then, that there is nothing in the article to support that assertion?

[nomaco-10]

16. I think Clark will take 2nd in NH and.....

that will be the end of Kerry, there is no way he can recover and if Clark does take NH, he will give Howard Dean a run for his money. I don't want to see Kerry go down that way.

[Jack_Dawson]

17. Hope yur right!

[dajabr]

21. That would rob us of the Dean/Kerry showdown...

I was looking forward to that.

Kerry's spike in NH makes that seem like it may happen.

Clark? Did he take the assets earmarked for IA and move them directly to SC? Or is he pushing in NH? I thought there were a lot of Vets in NH - did Kerry wrap them up?