I think you're right. Neal Boortz, whom I listen to very little, put this pretty succinctly when he said that Clark's job is twofold---take the momentum away from Dean, and don't get too powerful himself. I think that's about right. Certainly he doesn't have to worry about the latter, and it does appear he has thrown off Dean.
But the fascinating thing is that the "no-enemies-on-the-left" mantra of the Dems keeps EVEN DEAN from responding to this direct assault on him by the Clintons! How long will he put up with it?
No worries. Hatred Powered Howard will last about a week before he let's The Barracks Emporer have it.