Clark will switch the Dem debate more to expertise in war/foreign affairs. Since his and Kerry's positions are identical (Clark also supported the Iraq War with big caveats) that takes Kerry off the hook for supposedly "waffling" (he didn't anyway but opponents have said it so many times it sounds true). Also the Silver Star will be a badge of honor which Kerry also wears. So they make the other candidates look like wimps.
Clark will hurt Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards and Graham a little, but hurt Dean the most. No more Mr. Outsider. Clark will be the new story. Dean knows this which is why he tried a desperate effort to team up with Clark. It didn't work. While Dean may lead in a few recent polls, progress for him will be most difficult now. Likely he will slide fast. The media is sick of him anyway. They've already done his story to death and he's making embarrassing and arrogant gaffes galore now.
Clark could generate a lot of new excitement and make the Dems the party of macho military/foreign experience plus real compassion and smarts. This is exactly Kerry's intended message to bash Bush with, that we need both.
How can Kerry beat Clark? By his experience at all the other issues. It will be a tough fight and the bunch will stay bunched for a long time but in the end those candidates who make it to the convention will be the only ones who count. Figure Kerry, Gephardt, Dean and Clark.
Then the Establishment holding 37% of the delegates will decide. Clark would gladly accept a Veep role. The Establishment will want someone they can trust who isn't going to make the party look foolish or flakey for the top spot. That eliminates Dean. Gephardt reps the unions but is a tired old hat name. Kerry is the Insiders #1 choice per several polls. And he can easily catch on with everyone else too, including Dean, Gephardt and Clark voters. After all, he has the credentials and everything else. It will be a tough fight, but in the end, looks like Kerry-Clark may indeed be it. It may just come down to the math and politics as (un)usual, both of which eliminate Dean. |
