Just Home From Holiday Weekend. What Did I Hear George Stephanopoulos Say About Wes Clark??

[Dinger]

It went something like this:

"Remember when Wes Clark got into the race in 2004, and he was in a week and fell flat"? WTF?
I'm still holding out hope he's gonna run, though that is unlikely, but excuse me if I don't remember Clark's 2004 campaign quite that way. Al Gore is my # 2 by the way, and the liklihood of his candidacy in 2008 isn't that great, but I'm holding out hope there.
Actually, Edwards is gaining with me too. Never thought that'd happen, but it has.

[msongs]

1. gore/clark or gore/obama....both winning combos nt

[Dinger]

2. Very True, But Did George Say That, Or Was I Hallucinating??? (nt)

[mitchtv]

9. Yes indeed

That's what he said

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. George Staphylococcus is full of crap.

I don't know whether he said that, but I wouldn't put it past him.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. Well the fact he didn't win the nomination...

I'm guessing that's what he meant. Clark came in and made some noise, but ultimately didn't get the traction many thought he would. That wasn't a slam, just a reality.

I mean, I remember many people thinking Clark would get in and win, but that never happened. We're hearing the same thing about Thompson, we'll see how that pans out.

[maximusveritas]

7. I agree. I was one who thought Clark would win

Based on his resume and his positions, he was the strongest candidate in the race. I just don't think he was ready for modern Presidential politics. It's more of a slam on the state of politics than the General.

[karynnj]

5. Not unless a week is maybe 4 months long

That was a pretty nasty crack. In reality, at the point that Clark left the race - atter the first multi-state day, it was pretty clear that Kerry, who had just won 5 of the 7 states - DE, MO, ND, AZ, and NM, was was the nominee, unless something extremely unlikely happened. Edwards won his neighboring state, SC and Clark won his neighboring state, OK. Prior to that point, the far more seasoned Gephardt had dropped out. Dean had announced after NH that he wasn't even contesting any of those states - trying for wins in later races. He had won none when he dropped out shortly after Clark. Edwards was clearly running to be VP at that point. Given that set of states, if Kerry was winning those, where could Edwards get the states to beat him.

Clark ran no worse than Edwards or Dean during the time he stayed in. Only one person did significantly better in getting the 2004 nomination - Kerry.

[MessiahRp]

6. I like Clark very much

But I don't think he's been in politics long enough to be a President yet. I would think he'd be a fantastic member of the cabinet or possibly a VP nominee... No matter what role he ends up in he needs to be on the next President's short list for top military and national security advisors.

Rp

[sendero]

8. I love Wes Clark..

.... but he's not slimy enough to win a presidential election in this age. He has zero chance in 2008.

[tritsofme]

10. And...what exactly is incorrect about that statement?

nt

[Dinger]

11. Here's How Clark "Fell Flat" In 2004:

Got it from CCN:

"September 25, 2003, eight days after announcement:
In a Fox News national poll, Clark leads the field with 20% with Dean at 13%, down a point from the previous poll. Lieberman and Kerry were tanking, polling at 9% and 10% respectively after losing seven points each. "Not Sure" was at 19%.

October 9, 2003:
The latest USA Today-Gallup poll shows Clark leading with 21%, Dean at 16%, Undecided 15%, Kerry and Lieberman at 13%, and the rest in single digits, but in New Hampshire he is in fifth place (or sixth if you count “Undecided”) with 5%.

October 11, 2003:
A Newsweek poll, "Don't Know" leads with 20%, then Clark at 15%, Lieberman 13%, Kerry 11%, Dean 10%, Gephardt 8%, and Edwards 6%.

October 15, 2003:
The Sacramento Bee’s headline of an article on a California poll: “Clark streaks to lead among Democrats.”

November 12, 2003:
An ABC poll nationally: Clark 17%, Dean 15%. In a similar NBC poll, Clark’s lead is 18-15% over Dean.

November 15, 2003:
Clark leads in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and New Jersey according to a poll, and is ahead nationally at 18% with Dean at 15%.

November 18, 2003:
Nationally in the Gallup poll, Clark and Dean are at 16% (+3 and even respectively), with None/Other at 15% (-2), Lieberman at 14% (-1), Gephardt at 12% (+1), Kerry at 10% (+1), and Edwards at 5% (-4).

Now, it wasn't all a bed of roses. Clark didn't fare as well in state polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, although he did better in South Carolina in the early going.
Fell flat in a week. Yeah, right. If leading the national polls eight days after announcing is "falling flat," I'll take flat any old time."