Clark Criticizes Bush, Declares Bid for White House
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By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 18, 2003
LITTLE ROCK, Sept. 17 -- Retired four-star Gen. Wesley K. Clark announced his candidacy for president today, promising an optimistic but strong challenge to President Bush's leadership "in the highest sense of patriotism."
In a relatively short speech bereft of any policy specifics, Clark, 58, vowed to "hold this administration accountable" for the 2.7 millions jobs lost during Bush's tenure, the ballooning budget deficits and the loss of respect for the United States by "so many people around the world."
"We are firm in our intent, we are clear in our purpose, we are mustering the resources, building the nucleus, drawing in the support of people from all across this land," Clark said at a boys and girls club here. "We are on our way and moving forward."
Clark, a former NATO supreme allied commander, enters the wide-open race as a wild card with huge potential but scant political training. His announcement speech was choppy and lacked rhetorical flourish. Clark also did not outline his views on any of the most pressing domestic concerns, such as health coverage for the uninsured and tax cuts, two issues about which many Democratic voters care most, according to polls. Clark promised major addresses on the economy and national security in the weeks ahead.
Until Clark hits the campaign trail to get poked and prodded by party activists and the national media, it is impossible to project how he will shake up the race. At the very least, he offers something many Democrats crave: a fresh face with the potential to defeat Bush.
Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, said that "it's the perfect time to get in," because many Democrats are still looking for a candidate who they think can unify the party and beat Bush. "It all depends how he comes out of the box," she said. "Do Americans see him as a leader? Do they see him as a man with ideas?"
While some Republicans worry that Clark could pose problems for Bush, Christine Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said the retired general's candidacy only "means more noise, more discord and more Democrat-versus-Democrat disagreement on Iraq policy, taxes, trade and other issues."
In the early stages of his campaign, Clark will rely heavily on veterans of the Clinton-Gore years. A Clark adviser said last night that Donnie Fowler, Gore's 2000 field director, is a top candidate for campaign manager. Mark Fabiani, who was a communications specialist for President Bill Clinton and Gore, will handle the campaign's message. Ron Klain, who was a strategist for Gore, will be a top policy adviser. Eli J. Segal, a Clinton administration official who was chairman of Clinton's 1992 campaign, is a possible general chairman.
Clark will also rely on his résumé, which he laid out in his speech. He was first in his class at West Point, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, an Army general and head of the NATO mission in Kosovo.
"From West Point to Vietnam, 34 years in the United States Army, through war in the Balkans, back to Little Rock for business, I am proud to have made that journey, proud to have served my country in uniform," Clark said. "Now we are talking about a new journey." History suggests it could be a difficult one.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the last general to win the White House, and he was much more widely known back then than Clark is today. But Clark's advisers believe the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the military operation in Iraq have elevated national security so high on the minds of voters that the time is ripe for a military leader to win the presidency again.
At the very least, the advisers believe, the retired general could neutralize Bush on national security and focus the fight on domestic policy.
It might be several weeks before Democratic voters get a taste of Clark's so-far undefined domestic thinking. Clark will position himself as a moderate Democrat in favor of middle-class tax cuts and a strong national defense, the advisers said. He supports abortion rights and affirmative action but has not commented on hot-button issues such as gays in the military, gun control and global trade.
The other candidates are likely to give Clark time to lay out his ideas, but several are gearing up to hit him for his lack of domestic experience and his refusal to declare until only a few weeks ago that he is a Democrat. Clark has not decided whether he will attend a Democratic debate in New York next week.
Front-runner Howard Dean, who was campaigning in New Hampshire and was dogged with questions about Clark, said: "It is a good thing for us to have Wes Clark. I have four people beating up on me for being against the war. Now, I have a four-star general saying the same thing I've been saying."
In today's speech, Clark promised to reach out to independents, Republicans and "especially those who have never participated before." Clark's comments suggest that he will compete hard with Dean for newcomers to the political process, especially those who organize over the Internet. "You will come with us," Clark said of this crowd.
The most immediate challenge for Clark, however, is putting together campaign operations in key states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, and raising money. He will probably have to raise upwards of $20 million this year to compete with Dean, Sens. John F. Kerry (Mass.), John Edwards (N.C.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), as well as Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.), all of whom are expected to hit that mark.
Clark is planning early visits to Florida, South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire, a road map that indicates he will try to play catch-up in early testing grounds but also plans to quickly nationalize his campaign, with a heavy emphasis on the South.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
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