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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (29754)	10/8/2003 11:32:23 AM
From: Karen Lawrence	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 89467

Scott - Clark needs a new campaign manager... Clark's campaign manager quits in feud By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Last updated: 10:25 a.m., Wednesday, October 8, 2003 WASHINGTON -- Wesley Clark is looking for a new campaign manager after his first one quit in anger, the latest setback for a 3-week-old team struggling to mesh its Internet-savvy founders with a corps of Washington insiders assuming more power. Donnie Fowler, 35, told associates he was leaving over concerns that supporters who used the Internet to draft Clark into the race are not being taken seriously by top campaign officials. Fowler also complained that the campaign's message and methods are focused too much on Washington, not key states, said two associates who spoke on condition of anonymity. But those concerns were disputed by campaign officials, who suggested that Fowler resigned after losing a power struggle. Mike Frisby, a former spokesman for DraftClark2004.com and an adviser to the Clark campaign, said the political team has made an "earnest effort" to work with draft-Clark backers. "There's always different frictions and different tensions that take place in any campaign," Frisby said. "I don't think what's taking place is any different than what happens in any other campaign." Clark campaign chairman Eli Segal praised Fowler in a statement that did not address the rift. Segal moved to Arkansas this week, giving him more hands-on control of the campaign. In addition, Clark adviser Dick Sklar has taken on more authority in recent days. Campaign officials said Fowler's influence was diminished by the changes, which they said were ordered by Clark. The departure of Fowler, son of former Democratic Party chairman Donald Fowler, is the latest blow for a campaign that has gotten off to mixed reviews. National polls put Clark near the top of the nine-person field and he raised more than $3 million in the first two weeks of his campaign, a sum that surpassed what several rivals raised in three months. However, he has been criticized for flip-flopping on whether he would have supported the Iraq resolution, and his commitment to the Democratic Party has been questioned. Rivals have criticized Clark for backing former Republican Presidents Reagan and Nixon, praising both Bush administrations and not registering to vote as a Democrat in his home state of Arkansas before entering the race. Clark's rivals can now point to Fowler's departure as a sign of disarray in the fledgling campaign. Fowler, involved in his fifth presidential campaign, ran Al Gore's field operation in 2000. He is one of several veterans of the Clinton-Gore political campaigns involved in Clark's bid. They include Segal, communications adviser Mark Fabiani, policy adviser Ron Klain and adviser Mickey Kantor. Fowler has complained that while the Internet-based draft-Clark supporters have been integrated into the campaign, their views are not taken seriously by senior advisers, many of them with deep Washington ties. He has warned Clark's team that the campaign is being driven from Washington, a charge leveled against Gore's campaign in 2000 even though it was headquartered in Tennessee, associates said. Fowler's associates said the campaign is planning to open a Washington office to develop policy and oversee relations with Congress, a move that raised concerns among some draft-Clark backers who want the campaign based in Arkansas. Fowler told associates he won't work for any of Clark's rivals. Aides for at least two of Clark's opponents said they tried to contact Fowler Tuesday night to see if he was available. timesunion.com