Clark's 2004 Campaign Shakes Off Early Missteps

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

[Howlin]

Come on you West Pointers and other Military people, post what you have been telling me!

I have been waiting for a big old document drop from the Pentagon; Clark certainly has waved a red flag in their faces concerning his service -- practically daring them to say anything against him.

I don't know what the hell they are waiting on.

[Dane]

Uh dude, this was written by Reuters. You know the press agency that mandated a couple of days after 9/11, that the terrorists shouldn't be called terrorists.

[Solson]

The recent negative press has very little to do with it. I am looking at the momentum of the candidates as well as name recognition. Clark got in this race late, comparitively speaking, and his name recognition is shooting through the roof.

Moreover, internal Dem support for Clark is very high. The screaming banshees of the left are supporting Clark, not Dean. The tide has already started to turn. Now, WITH the media's help, Dean will be taken down. Clark is the guy. The media is paying attention to him already and offering nothing but softballs, a la Meet the Press yesterday.

[jwalsh07]

[Huck]

Your entitled to your opinion.

[HitmanLV]

Wesley Clark lost his shine about 3 days after entering the race. I don't know why you consider him the favorite.

[Solson]

I think that will happen in the general election. Then it will be folks who wouldn't follow Clark against folks like General Zinni who openly lambasts Bush.

I still think Bush wins this election but it will be against Clark.

[Solson]

With low unfavorables, increasing name recognition, Clinton and DLC support, Radical leftist support, a growing war chest, and media compliance in labeling him a moderate with foreign policy experience are some of the reasons I consider him the favorite.

Watch South Carolina. If Clark can win, he wins the South and the nomination. If Dean can pull off SC, he will win.

[Howlin]

Danger, Will Robinson!

[Solson]

I'd much rather see Dean win. I don't think he can maintain his leads.

[HitmanLV]

I completely disagree. His best days are behind him - the time leading up to his announcing his entry was his glory days. He was exposed shortly after that and hasn't done a thing to improve that perception in any of the debates, where he looks just like the rest of the pack, admittedly with more of a 'wide eyed' look of wonder to him.

Second, you went from anointing him the nominee in your first post to a strange 'South Carolina' analysisyjay I think is 1/2 baked, frankly.

Wait and see.

[jwalsh07]

Clark won't even beat Sharpton in South Carolina and if it wasn't for Carol Mosely Braun, neither would Dean.

[Solson]

We can hope.

[Huck]

I guess we'll see. I don't have a preference really. I think they're both nuts.

[jwalsh07]

Take it to the bank, look at Jesse Jacksons numbers when he ran in the south.

[Solson]

Yeah, I read an article earlier today on that exact premise...that Sharpton will win in the South. I'd love to see Sharpton take the majority of the south and Dean win the nomination. I just want us to be prepared for the Clark onslaught.

[zencat]

While I'm a bit more worried about Clark than many seem to be, I can't see how one could currently think he's definitely going to be the nominee.

1. Clark got in late. Not even campaigning in Iowa.
2. Dean has far more money.
3. Dean has Gore's endorsement, 1 senator and like 13 reps. He's picking up Bill Bradley's today.
4. Dean has union endorsements.
5. Dean has by far the best organization of any of the Dems. His supporters are kooky, but numerous and dedicated.
6. Clark just isn't polished and it shows.
7. Dean has the highest name recognition.
8. If Dean wins IA and NH, he'll get a boost in fundraising and probably enough momentum to pull off a SC victory as well.

It's not impossible, but Clark is still a long shot. Bush will crush either of them in the general election.

[Cicero]

Interesting headline from REUTERS. Five days into the new year, and Clark hasn't put a major foot into his mouth yet, if you don't count that "joke" about Dean the skier.

Give him a little more time.

[sinkspur]

He will be the Democratic nominee.

Doesn't matter. He's a nutcase as well.

His tax "reform" plan raises taxes. Bush will kill him with that.

And, he will likely be confronted by those in the military who know him well.

Bush's record speaks for itself. Dean and Clark are the two mental unstables in the race, and they're leading in the polls. What does that say about Democrats?

[NeoCaveman]

"It's going to be about facing down George Bush and his failure to perform his duties satisfactorily as commander in chief,"

This is lunacy on Clark's part. President Bush may have weaknesses but they are not military ones.