http://www.newsday.com/news/politic...,3086108.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines Clark Set to Enter 2004 Presidential Race By RON FOURNIER AP Political Writer September 11, 2003, 2:05 PM EDT WASHINGTON -- Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark has told friends he is likely to become the 10th Democratic presidential candidate, a move that could shake up the crowded field just four months before the first ballots are cast. Clark, 58, has not made a final decision, but the Arkansas resident has begun to recruit campaign staff and plans to announce his intentions next week, friends and party officials said on condition of anonymity. He could still put the brakes on a campaign, they said. While mulling his options, Clark has met with several presidential contenders who covet his endorsement and might consider him for a vice presidential slot. He met Saturday with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who said it is too soon to talk about political alliances. "There is a lot of vetting that would have to be done before you would have those kinds of discussions," Dean said when asked whether he had discussed the vice presidency with Clark. A senior adviser to another Democratic contender described Clark's talks with his candidate as "almost an audition for the vice presidential sweepstakes." If Clark were to enter the race, it would be to win the nomination and not simply position himself for the No. 2 slot, associates said. Clark has a resume that unnerves potential rivals -- Rhodes scholar, first in his 1966 class at West Point, White House fellow, head of the U.S. Southern Command and NATO commander during the 1999 campaign in Kosovo. A Clark White House bid would grab the political spotlight and undercut the strengths of several in the nine-way Democratic race. Dean's effort to solidify his front-runner status might suffer from the distraction of a Clark candidacy. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts would no longer be the race's only decorated combat veteran. Sens. John Edwards of North Carolina and Bob Graham of Florida would face another Southerner. "He's all potential and upside," said Democratic strategist Donna Brazile. "The question will be whether he could put together the organization so late." A senior Democratic Party strategist said Clark told him this week that he was "90 percent sure" he would run. Asked what would hold him back, Clark had no answer, according to the official, who also said Clark didn't seem to have answers to key questions about organizing a race. Two acquaintances of Clark said he has told him he is likely to run, and the only thing stopping him is a last-minute change of heart or realization that he can't get an organization ready. An Internet-fueled draft-Clark movement has developed the seeds of a campaign and more than $1 million in pledges. Dean, who also has used the Internet as an organizational tool, has said Clark would have an immediate impact on the race. Senior party leaders say Clark or his advisers have contacted several prominent Democrats about jobs in the campaign should he take the plunge. Among them are Mark Fabiani, who ran Al Gore's communications team in the 2000 campaign. Clark also asked John Weaver, a top strategist in the 2000 presidential campaign of Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, to manage his campaign. Weaver declined because of health problems. If he enters the race, Clark would enjoy the support of at least two longtime associates of former President Clinton -- Skip Rutherford and Bruce Lindsey, both of Arkansas. Clinton has spoken glowingly of Clark, but he has not taken sides in the nomination fight. Clark believes his four-star military service would counter Bush's political advantage as a wartime commander in chief, associates say. The retired general has been critical of the Iraq war and Bush's postwar efforts, positions that would put him alongside Dean, Graham and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio as the most vocal anti-war candidates. Dean has met four times with Clark. In the last several months, Clark talked to Kerry and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, among other contenders. Dean's campaign manager, Joe Trippi, and Clark's advisers also talked frequently. Officials familiar with the conversations say Dean has sought Clark's endorsement, but there has been no promises made about putting Clark on a potential Dean ticket. Clark is scheduled to deliver a speech at the University of Iowa on Sept. 19, but he has said he'll make his decision before that. Officials say next week's announcement will likely be made in Little Rock, Ark. Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press
Really, it's not like running for the most powerful position in the world is something someone should take seriously.
i agree...i posted first and then read. but that's the title of the article...their words...i just repeated them. that's my story, and i'm sticking to it!
Oh I see. He has to "think about it" and he'll call us back in 2 weeks. He's not sure he's ready for the job, eh? Well if he's not sure, he probably isn't.
Uh, whether he wants to or not. There's a difference in knowing you can do it and knowing whether or not you want to put your family through not only a campaign, but a possible 4-8 years under unbearable scrutiny.
I look forward to Clark entering the race. I'll be disappointed if he doesn't. Right now, he would be my top choice to head a Democratic ticket. I think he would beat Bush, although he may not be the only Democrat who can by a long shot. I like what I've read so far about Clark's stand on the issues. He is remarkably intelligent and has a record to back that up. He rose to one of the highest levels you can reach in the military and directed a successful war that was a very complicated campaign. Clark can speak several languages and knows foreign policy. Clark can't be credibly attacked for being weak on defense. Clark wasn't "handed" anything from birth... he worked his a** off to accomplish what he did. He understands regular people, having grown up as one. Clark is a highly decorated combat veteran who would work to provide veterans and service men and women the benefits they deserve. I hope he runs. I hope he gets the nomination. And if he does, I'll work to try and get him elected.
If Clark runs, it is without question the deathblow to the Dean campaign. Without Clark as a running mate, Dean is severely lacking in any type of foreign policy experience -- a top issue of the upcoming campaign. Angry spats with John Kerry in front of a national audience, a racially motivated lie, now an outright spurning from Clark -- the Dean campaign is on life support at the moment.
I would need to hear Clark's ideas...but is it actually possible that I could vote for an Arkansas Democrat for President?!
I'm all for Clark running for president. The more voices there are, the better prepared the candidates will be for the Presidential race.
Cohen, DraftWesleyClark.com has tons of information on Clark and links to numerous articles about him. Here's the link: www.DraftWesleyClark.com I had to laugh at your, " ... but is it possible that I could vote for an Arkansas Democrat for President?!" comment. It's a strange coincidence, isn't it? That's all it is, though.
Very interesting in his bio is says that he sold out to the evil world of investment banking upon completion of his military career. Hmm... why would someone so focused on public service be interested in joining an investment bank? What talents does he have in the realm of finance? Should not his time be spent elsewhere, where he has expertise, so that he can help the community? There is only one reason to go into investment banking -- money. I know because I was in investment banking at one time and left. Clark is a sell-out.
Dude, you are *the* most negative, hate-filled person on these boards. You must be a very unhappy guy.
Hey, we could have a Kerry-Clark ticket. It would be interesting to see AWOL Dubya and too- Busy- to- go Dick, claim to be the more courageous men at arms. I'm sure they would at least give it a try. What else could Dubya do? Run on his record as " a uniter, not a divider", because he has united the world in hatred of us or, as seems to be happening, he has united the Shiites and the Sunnis to oppose the occupation?
do the liberals on the board expect me to call out TJ when he posts something like that? i hope not. i hope it's just taken as a given that i don't assume the man is a sellout because he was an investment banker. hell, i'm a lawyer...if being an investment banker makes you a sellout, what does that make me!!??
How does that joke go? Oh yeah, what do you call a thousand lawyers chained together at the bottom of the ocean? Just kidding, Max, I know that not ALL lawyers are scumbags.
