'Newsweek' poll puts Clark second to Dean

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1230clark-brief30.html

The Arizona Republic
Dec. 30, 2003 12:00 AM

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark's presidential campaign received a double boost Monday with a new poll out showing him second to front-runner Howard Dean in the Democratic primary race and news of strong donations to his campaign coffers.

A Newsweek poll released Monday showed Dean in the lead, with 26 percent of registered Democrats and self-defined "Democratic leaners" picking the former Vermont governor for the nomination. Fifteen percent would choose Clark. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Clark also came in second in the money race and will have raised $10 million to $12 million in the fourth quarter, for a total of almost $15 million, according to wire service reports.

Dean will have raised more than $14 million in the final three months, pushing his yearly total to almost $40 million.

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[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I really think the race will come down to Dean and Clark

Their campaigns are getting the most press and are raising the most money. I think it would be great, however, if Kucinich has a strong showing in NH and IA as I hope his message gets out more. We don't have long to wait and see what happens, do we?

[Zech Marquis]

2. Clark is gainng that mojo!

I still like Dean alot, but at the same time, I'm really starting to like Clark alot as well. No wonder Kerry and the others are atacking Dean so much--they KNOW they have no other choice but to try something. All except General Clark, what a classy guy. :-)

[leftchick]

3. he sure is!!!

I love the way the General handles the media too. Pure finesse that none of the other candidates come close to and that will be CRITICAL in the race for the WH.

[newsjunkie]

4. He does handle the media well

He's not a politician and he's doing better than the ones that have been doing it for years! I'm very impressed with both he and Dean. Dean has my vote,but I hope Clark gets on the ticket or when Dean wins,he will appoint Clark as Sec of Defense. He seems like a true American hero and would be a great leader.

[Zech Marquis]

12. Clark sur handled NATO and the US Forces in Europe pretty well

so he looks more than ready to counterattack the rethugs :evilgrin: AND he doesn't have to pretend to be GI Joe to wear the uniform! He's the type of officer I would have loved to have served under. Down to earth, fair, and dedicated to his troops no matter if you were a full blown Colonel or frsh out of boot camp. If you ever served and/or grew up as a military dependent, you now how bitchy the officer wives are, especially the wife of Colonel so and so...:eyes:

[cally]

27. I have not been around military much

but I did meet Gert. She was warm and kind to both my daughter and I. Wes seems to rely on her and seems to respect her.

[Sideways]

33. Oh I Take Umbrage Here Zech My Mother Was Never Bitchy

My father is a retired Admiral (a mustang Admiral to boot) and my late mother was the picture of warmth and generosity. Maybe the fact that dad was a mustang gave her a different perspective but not all officers wives are bitchy.

I was an officers wife myself many years ago and it was my ex who was bitchy NOT ME. Those fucking F-14 pilots are a REAL pain in the ass. :crazy:

[Ilsa]

6. I think Clark will handle the attacks well.

I don't think Clark will give anyone even a moment to define his campaign if he is facing them head-on on TV. His campaign also immediately jumped on Tom DeLay after his smear on MTP a few weeks ago, also.

I think the Dems are ready for this kind of aggressive counterattack; no hesitation, no second-guessing.

[JaneQPublic]

9. I agree: Gen. Clark = Classy Guy

It says a lot that the one candidate coming closest to knocking Dr. Dean out of the frontrunner position is the one who doesn't use the attack and smear tactics.

I of course hopes my guy, Dean, wins, but if he doesn't, I hope Clark is the one to beat him.

[Nlighten1]

5. The two biggest anti-Bush candidates are in the lead.

Surprise! There might be hope for America after all. I would love to see these two on the same ticket.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[BenDavid]

7. My prediction:

After the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries as the candidates head south I look for one or both of the Clintons to endorse Clark. This will give Clark the push he needs to take the remaining primaries and thus you will have Clark with the wind at his back. Now if Dean decides he wishes to bolt the party and run third party. I see no major problem because I believe the Greens and the Dems which went over to the Dark Side in 2000 regret their decision and thus they will go with Clark. That is the way I see things.:dem:

[onehandle]

14. Dean won't go third party...

"Dean repeatedly has said he would endorse the eventual Democratic nominee and urge his supporters to do the same."

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/12/28/dean/index.html

[worldgonekrazy]

43. That is ludicrous

n/t

[young_at_heart]

8. I'm liking Clark more and more

He handles himself very well (so far) in interviews and his personality is not the least bit abrasive.

[truthisfreedom]

10. i love Clark.

the guy rocks. but i am sticking by my mantra... ANYONE BUT BUSH.

[Name removed]

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[Yavin4]

13. After Dean's Bin Laden Faux Pas

I'm switching over to Clark. Dean has absolutely no chance after his Bin Laden quote.

[Hamlette]

15. what was the bin laden quote? n/t

[Demobrat]

16. Dean seems to feel that Bin Laden should be put on trial

before receiving the death penalty. Go figure.

[MidwestTransplant]

17. Bin Laden is a military target

that's the point. If they figure out where he is they should just kill him unless it is determined he would serve the iterest alive. But he shouldn't be captured just so he can be put on trial.

Oh and don't worry, the Dean quote will make a great commercial in the GE.

You guys really need to consider how things Dean says will play to the general population, not people here on DU. We probably represent only about 10 Million voters and they will vote Democratic now matter what.

[KittyWampus]

20. Which Dean Quote... He Got A "Do-Over". He Made One Osama Statement

found out it was a disaster and then made another one.

By the way, when did the media EVER give a Democrat a do-over before?

Could you imagine them giving Gore a second chance in 2000?

[Yavin4]

26. The Damage Has Been Done

There's no do-over with Karl Rove. If Dean gets the nomination, that quote alone will fry him in the Fall. Look, I even agree with Dean, but he killed his campaign pure and simple. This is what Dean should have said,

"I will make finding and bringing OBL and Al Qeda to justice as my number one objective. He needs to be brought to justice and be made to answer his crimes against America and the world. He has admitted to 9/11, as well as the USS Cole bombing, the embassy bombing in the Sudan, etc. He's a worldwide ruthless criminal that needs to be brought to justice."

Simple. Very easy. Straight forward. Dean's quote symbolizes what a lot of Americans hate about Liberals, our lack of clarity on critical issues. Dean was correct, but he mis-communicated his point and gave Rove a golden target.

His candidacy is done.

[worldgonekrazy]

45. He had to moderate his statement because he didn't realize...

that the Rule of Law is no longer sacred in this country. Neither did I. I think both myself and Howard had somewhat of a rude awakening the other day.

[stickdog]

54. Bin Laden is a bogeyman figurehead. Congratulations to Dean for

having the balls to at least broach the truth about this.

And shame on other Dem candidates and the whore media for providing a uniform front of attack dogs whenever somebody tells the truth about Bush's favorite supervillain bogeymen, SADDAM & OSAMA!

[maggrwaggr]

24. and you're against that because .....?

I've seen more evidence that BFEE was responsible for 9/11 than I have that Osama Bin Laden was.

"We don't need evidence, we know he's guilty" was what Bush said.

[Demobrat]

38. Did I say I was against it?

?

[worldgonekrazy]

44. Yeah apparently Dean believes in this "Rule of Law" thing

I'm gonna research it on Google. Anybody know what it is?

[Demobrat]

48. I seem to remember something like that

from a long time ago.

[robbedvoter]

46. NBut then, recanted, asking for his death, because OBL is " outrageous"

So pick uour statement...

[stickdog]

53. How dare Dean suggest Bin Laden receive the same treatment as Hussein!

Fair trials are so anti-American!

[farmbo]

18. Due to spending caps, we are screwed if Clark gets the nomination.

Clark could be a great candidate, but for a measly $3.9 million (his federal "match") he's hamstrung his campaign from April to August. He will be legally prohibited from spending $$s to counter the $200 million Roveian Mud Slide headed his way. This will destroy his campaign in the cradle.
Dean, on the other hand, will have both the means and the ability, to take the fight to Rove, and make this campaign about HIS issues, instead of responding to Rove's latest attack. John Kerry also understands this dynamic.

(BTW... I thought the Clintons we're supposed to be the Grownups in advising Wes Clark...they have certainly made a fatal, rookie mistake in accepting the ($3.9 million?!?) federal match. What gives?)

[BeyondGeography]

19. The Dean money crutch

I love it! I get that all the time from Deaniacs: "We just need to spend $500k showing that Clark endorsement of Rumsfeld and CheneyCo and he'll be finished." You guys are drowning in your own bully talk, just like your candidate.

I think it's more important to run a nominee who most of the country actually finds likeable, don't you? Dean's negatives are already twice as high as Clark's, and they'll only go higher, because the campaign he has run invites attacks from within the party. The media die has been cast: Angry, weak on defense, taxes the middle class. He's not particularly good on television, either.

Oh, I know, those are all superficialities...

[Demobrat]

31. Problem is Clark is only likeable

to little boys who like to play with toy soldiers. Not a big voting bloc, unfortunately.

[BeyondGeography]

35. Guess you're saying

Dean will do better with women than Clark. And I guess we disagree.

[Demobrat]

39. Boy, do we ever.

It's women who are flocking to Dean. It's that health care/education/jobs thing he's got going on, doncha know.

[MODemocrat]

51. You better believe it; I, for one can't get enough of Howard Dean

He's about domestic issues, and don't tell me this country isn't just begging for someone to work for the common people. I won't have a
problem if Clark is my president, but right now, I'm rooting for Dean.

[leftchick]

58. absolutly not true....

Clark has wide ranging appeal. My MIL and all of her little old lady friends now hate bush* and want to vote for a Dem. They love Clark and won't consider Dean. That along with Clark's ability to handle a hostile media speak volumes for me.

[w4rma]

50. I'm sorry, but money is very important to a campaign, currently.

That's reality. Lets try to change it, but until the rules are changed, the game is won with a big help from money.

I hope that as a supporter of Clark, you will help fundraise for him, or donate to his campaign rather than promote an attitude, opposite of reality, that money isn't important.

[stickdog]

55. Thanks for doing your damnedest to cast exactly that media die, DLC'ers.

Sorry, but this election will be about the truth.

And that demand is nonnegotiable.

[KittyWampus]

21. Clark Hasn't Made Verbal Gaffes The Way Dean Has

why do you really think Dean needs all that money???

To help clean up after his numerous and tragic mistakes.

Clark has basically made no errors since the first days of his campaign... and has done more with less Money AND Time.

[BeyondGeography]

22. Supreme Allied Commander,

first in his class at West Point, advanced degree in economics from Oxford, decorated war hero, savior of Kosovo, instant credibility with the American people on national security and foreign policy...those are credentials that money can't buy, Deaniacs.

[Hawkeye-X]

30. Clark can't win

1) No poltiical experience (civilian)

2) Economic professors tend to try to apply the economic theory and forgetting to apply the people. CLark will do the same, thus sinking him.

3) Kosovo is a big controversy and he's finished, and if not...

4) Rove's video of Clark praising *. - that will make him dead last.

5) No true domestic policy (established)

And Clark is hampered by the FEC rules, Dean isn't, and Dean is spending the 40M frugally. Dean's average airfare cost is $512, hotel cost is $172 (at the Marriott)

Dean's largest hotel bill: $3,371 in Milwaukee, WI on August 26th
Clark's largest hotel bill: unknown (no info was released)

Dean's largest airfare bill: $103,903 - August 19th from Air Charter Team
Clark's largest airfare bill: $53,146 - September 28th from Air Charter Team

Clark's favorite airline: $53,146 average (1 bill) from Air Charter Team
Dean's favorite airline: $512 average (84 bills) from United Airlines

Airlines:
Cheapest: Edwards (average 146 bills, with $151 via Southwest)
Next Expensive (other than Clark - Al Sharpton 7 bills, $624 from US Air)

Hotels:
Largest hotel bill - Chimpy McCokespoon, $132,000 with Sheraton NY, NY on July 1st.

Expensive: Al Sharpton (again) - 4 bills, averaging at $3,598

Cheapest - Howard Dean with average bill of $172 on 38 bills from Marriott

Source: http://www.fundrace.org

[BeyondGeography]

34. Vote for the guy with the best accounting

How compelling!

Your "Clark can't win" posts are warmed over old hash, just as you would surely find my "Dean can't win" posts. I'm for Clark because I'm tired of this party being confined to 25% of the counties in this country and dominated by polarizing figures who are easily demonized by the right-wing. Clark gives us a better chance to win and a MUCH better chance to govern.

[deminflorida]

52. Great Fundraising dig,

but of course Clark travels with his wife...Dean doesn't....right?

[Demobrat]

32. You forgot

FIRED Supreme Allied Commander. Small, but important mistake.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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[Demobrat]

40. Yeah, Clark looks great

right up until he starts talking about anything but war. Problem is, people in this country have other concerns. About which he knows nothing.

[BeyondGeography]

41. The General is a wizard

who can run intellectual circles around Dean. He's also very good at not sticking his foot in his mouth, which is a skill your boy might want to brush up on.

[Demobrat]

42. A wizard?

As in, Mary help? And they say us Deanies are kool-aid drinkers. Clark is a one-trick pony, and the trick isn't even that good.

[maggrwaggr]

25. They were only "gaffes" because the media described them as such

and you fell for it apparently.

I believe Dean over the media any day of the week.

[KittyWampus]

37. The Media Barely Touched On Them

in all honesty. Which is kind of strange to anyone who really thinks about it...

By the way, when did the media ever give a Democratic Presidential Candidate a "Do-Over" like they did with Dean's various Osama statements?

[stickdog]

57. The media barely touched on them because the only thing newsworthy

about Dean's so-called "gaffes" was the Rovian way they were spun by his attacking Democratic opponents.

[PassingFair]

49. Clark cannot

... remember who he voted for! He didn't declare himself a democrat until 3 weeks before he officially announced his run. Nope, no errors. Buy a clue. It's hard to have errors when you call the game. Generals "generally" call the shots. It's easy to lead if everyone HAS to obey you.

[stickdog]

56. Clark has three DLC attack dogs running as his stalking horses.

Meanwhile, all he has to do is stay above the fray and read up on the everything-to-everyone policy papers that his insider staff keeps producing for him.

In contrast, every single statement Dean makes is met with a chorus of Dem attacks.

[alittlelark]

59. I hope that all the dem contenders

vow to place their money and supporters firmly behind whomever the two front runners are if the media blitz hits the fan. This is much bigger than any one candidate.

[bspence]

29. See ya Gephardt

Sorry, but the good old boys who have ruined our party for the past few years need to step aside. I'm primarily rooting for Dean, but I also like Edwards and Clark. We need to shake things up and put the Republicans off guard. A Gephardt campaign would be too predictable for the R's to attack. We'd lose.

[trapper914]

47. Sheesh!

Everyone in here bickering like....candidates!

Look. This is great. Dean and Clark in a footrace to the nomination. Boys, let's keep it clean and no hitting below the belt. We want you working together come Autumn. Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean. I think either will be a formidable ticket. And if you want, you can bring Edwards along to be the A.G.

As for Dean. I've been behind him almost as long as most of the Deanies in here, but I do think he needs a "Karl Rove" (gulp) in his camp to ride herd over his message. It's not what he's saying, it's how he's saying it. The front runner's words are put under the microscope and Dean will get no more free passes.