Dear President Gore, Please don't make the same mistake Wesley Clark did.

[Stinky The Clown]

Wes Clark's endorsement won't make much difference to the Clinton campaign. Oh sure, it might throw a few Clark supporters her way, but they probably would have gone there if Clark stayed out of the race. The rest of Clark's supporters are more independent minded and will just as likely now turn up in various Democratic candidate camps. This is surely not a case of Clark's people going to Clinton just because he endorsed her.

I also think that Clark's supporters would just as soon he never endorsed anyone. That statement has nothing to do with whom he endorsed - just the fact that he did. It makes them feel he's less likely to get a veep nod from anyone but the person he endorsed.

All in all, the endorsement was pretty much a non event in the world of politics. It will have little practical impact on the race or the candidates. Clark's endorsements for Senate, House, and local candidates had much more impact. But even that was based on an independent Wes Clark.

So now his supporters find themselves adrift. Still respecting their General, they feel let down, disappointed, disillusioned, maybe some even ready to just stop paying attention, much as they did before the discovered the General in 03.

President Gore, you have similar supporters. They're with you because of who you are and what you stand for. They're probably more unlikely to simply stop paying attention, but they might. They want you to run much as the General's supporters wanted him to run. But even in the absence of such an announcement, they look to you for leadership. They respect you. You give them hope.

Many of your supporters are already in some other candidate's camp. But those for whom that statement is true, would be by your side in a heartbeat. And you know that.

Please, President Gore. Don't waste your endorsement early. If you don't run, please wait until the eve of Decision Day (which might be the Iowa caucuses or New Hampshire ..... or just as easily a later primary).

But more than anything, President Gore ..... PLEASE don't close the door on another run yourself. And if you do, take Wes Clark with you as your partner. You two, as a team, would be unstoppable. But more than that, you two, as a team, may well be exactly what's needed to heal the party and the nation ..... and the world. At least consider giving the country a chance to decide for sure if they see it that way, too.

Please, President Gore. Do the right thing.

Your admirer,
Stinky