Clark's 2004 Campaign Shakes Off Early Missteps

Reuters - Yahoo News ^ | 1/4/04 | By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

[Solson]

Folks, Wesley Clark, not Howard Dean should be the focus of our scrutiny. He will be the Democratic nominee.

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[Huck]

I think Clark's a bigger loony tune than Dean! Too bad he sucks in the polls!

[Howlin]

I agree 100 percent.

[Solson]

Check the polls again. Among Dem nominee's he is polling either 2nd or 3rd in most races. He wins SC, he wins the nomination.

[Solson]

IT all feels like a big setup to me. Everyone has their angst focused on Dean while Clark quietly gains in the polls.

The right needs to wake up a bit and understand what is happening.

[Huck]

As far as I know, 2nd place doesn't even mean your in double digits. And I think he's at least 10-15 points behind Dean in SC. PLUS, he's a total moron.

[Howlin]

This is the visible part of a blood feud between Gore (Dean) and the Clintons (Clark).

We all know how far the Clintons will go to win.

This is a struggle FOR the entire party, not just the White House, IMO.

[Howlin]

It doesn't matter what his numbers are; if he's 2nd in most places, he will be the nominee because you can bet your butt that Dean is going down.

[Huck]

Here's some #s:

http://www.rnc.org/Newsroom/RNCResearch/pollwatch.htm

Clark does almost as well as Rev. Al in SC depending which poll you look at. LOL. Sorry, Solson. Polling 2nd or 3rd in most states means LOSING in most states. Clark is toast. Has been since day one.

[Solson]

In SC, he trails Dean 16% to 12%, statistically a dead heat. He will place 2nd or 3rd in New Hampshire. In the month of november, he gained in polling while all other candidates declined. His name recognition was up 9 points in SC. I suspect January polling will position him as a strong third in NH, possibly 2nd and winning in SC.

[Huck]

It doesn't matter what his numbers are; if he's 2nd in most places, he will be the nominee because you can bet your butt that Dean is going down.

I am not betting my butt on that.

[Solson]

That's exactly right. This is more than the Dem nomination, this is the entire power structure the Clinton's have employed. It falls like a house of cards if Dean wins. Thus, he CANNOT win.

[Huck]

It depends which poll you look at. Look, time will tell. The recent negative press on Dean has got you thinking Clark. That's fine. I am sure Clark benefits from no one paying attention to him, because once they do, watch his numbers tank--again.

[N. Theknow]

riding a gold-plated resume to the top tier of the Democratic pack

Wow! When I get that drunk I can hardly walk, much less write an article.

[ClearCase_guy]

I see a concerted effort to bring Dean down. Time, Newsweek, NYT, Boston Globe, TV anchors -- everywhere I look the major media outlets are starting to expose Dean as vulnerable.

The Left knows that a new candidate must come forth, and the current leading candidate must be pushed down. It's not much of a hope, but it's all they have.

[yoe]

Come on you West Pointers and other Military people, post what you have been telling me! A man who was not to be followed into combat, is hardly the man to lead this nation.

[Howlin]

Well, I wouldn't want you to anyway.......LOL.

[Solson]

And here are some #'s:

http://americanresearchgroup.com/sc/

[Huck]

I see a concerted effort to bring Dean down. Time, Newsweek, NYT, Boston Globe, TV anchors -- everywhere I look the major media outlets are starting to expose Dean as vulnerable.

I see that as a concerted effort to have content for their publications. They can highlight his strong points, his negative points, round in circles all they want. I don't see a conspiracy. Just journalism.

The Left knows that a new candidate must come forth, and the current leading candidate must be pushed down. It's not much of a hope, but it's all they have.

I don't know if they do know that. I am sure SOME believe that, and since not a single vote has been cast, they can hope all they want. But when the votes are counted, it ain't gonna be Clark. He's a bigger psycho than Dean, and he proves it quickly. Watch.