THE NOTE: Clark:
Wes Clark will not blow the current field of 9 (now 10) candidates away.
He has raised no money;
He has no organization in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other early states;
He isn't well known;
He is immensely naive about the rhythms and mechanics of politics;
He has made enemies among both the career and political people at the Pentagon (wait until you read those stories!);
He has no obvious positions on many important (and hot-button) domestic issues;
He exists on videotape at the Republican National Committee saying all sorts of (outrageous to some ears) things about the war;
He is not a world-class public speaker;
He has some of the less attractive traits of Ross Perot;
(and we could go on … .).
But, Howard Dean's rise notwithstanding, the Democratic field nationally and in key states is very fluid, and we have been struck by:
The number of Democrats attracted to the notion of Clark's candidacy;
His war record as key in post-9/11 politics;
The way some Democratic members of Congress — afraid of Dean's candidacy --see him as the savior;
His way with people in small groups;
His strong(ish) TV presence;
His Internet boomlet;
His Southern roots (electorally key), coupled with what will be moderate-ish stands on many social issues that Democrats care about;
And his projection of decency and message of change.
In one of two front-pagers on the retired general, Jim VandeHei of the Washington Post quotes Joe Trippi saying "a lot of people underestimate how strong he'll be," making Trippi's camp the only one that thinks that, or will admit it. LINK
He also has Fabiani saying that "three top California party fundraisers" are ready to help.
Jim Jordan is quoted all over the place twisting the knife a bit into John Kerry's friend Wes Clark — suggesting the Mommy Party won't give its nomination to a Pure Daddy.
The Wall Street Journal 's Jake Schlesinger gets this encapsulating quote:
"'No institutional favorite has yet emerged — Clark has a chance of becoming that,' said Mike McCurry, a veteran of many presidential cycles and a Clinton White House spokesman. 'He's a very attractive guy, and a lot of Democratic officeholders around the country are saying, "I'd be a lot more comfortable with a guy like that at the top of the ticket than Howard Dean."'"
"Wesley Clark: The new Howard Dean? The former Vermont governor is the front-runner, but some Democratic insiders wonder if the retired general has a better chance of beating Bush." LINK
Yes, from the folks at Salon, a piece wondering whether the mix of Southern roots, military background, straight-talking-attitude and skepticism on Iraq make Clark the real guy to beat. And it is indeed about electability …
Treading along this line of thought, the New York Daily News' coverage of Clark's entrance emphasizes the negative fallout it could have for "outsider" Dean. LINK
And the paper's Michael Kramer thinks Clark has "the standing to say (calmly but strongly) the same kind of things the likes of Howard Dean are screaming." LINK
So will the Hamlet-turned-candidate debate? Well, we over here hear that scheduling conflicts might keep the General from the next one up but his camp is working feverishly to make him present (to borrow an L.A. phrase) at as many of these events as possible.
Clark told Matt Lauer this morning he has a "hard conflict" with next week's Democratic candidates debate |
