Washington Post: Clark best positioned to take on Dean

[Donny247]

Wow! The CW is definitely shifting towards Clark. Today's Post claims that Clark is emerging as the anti-Dean. Here's some excerpts:

"Clark, who entered the race in September, is perhaps best positioned to challenge Dean for two key reasons: his fundraising prowess and military résumé, strategists for several campaigns said. The former supreme commander of NATO, his aides said yesterday, raised between $10.5 million and $11.1 million in the past three months, which, coupled with the $3.7 million in federal matching funds wired to the campaigns today, is close to Dean's record-setting performance this quarter."

"Clark is the only candidate moving up in New Hampshire, according to public polls and internal surveys by two rival campaigns, though he trails Dean and Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.). If Clark can overtake Kerry, the retired general could storm into the seven states holding votes on Feb. 3 with significant momentum. With more money than many of his rivals, Clark is planning a sustained media campaign in South Carolina, Tennessee, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona for four weeks until those states vote, a top adviser said. The campaign is also planning to buy television airtime in Wisconsin and Virginia. Dean is the only other candidate advertising on television in so many states."

Here's the full article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48073-2004Jan1.html

[CMT]

1. doesn't surprise me

given that Dean and Clark are the only ones able to generate any real grass roots enthusiasm and raise considerable sums of money especially on the internet I figure it will come down to one of them.

[Skittles]

2. Clark is best positioned to take on Bush too

YES INDEED.

[StClone]

3. I liked Clark from the get-go

But Dean can not be closeted. His appeal is there and can not be ignored and if he wins the nod who's to say he didn't EARN it. Beating Bush or not, we are not run by a Nordquist lockstep Nazism.

[Alice Franken]

4. And that, my friend, is the point!

n/t

[H2O Man]

5. The Three Groups:

(1) Those who will always vote for Bush. (2) Those who will always vote against Bush. (3) Those who are "undecided" or rigid supporters of one democratic candidate. The only way to beat Bush in 2004 is to combine group 2 with a significant % of group 3. (Bush hopes to combine group 1 with some of 3, and to discourage a large % of 2 & 3 from participating in the election.)
Of the two big issues, Bush hopes to capitalize on the war, by raising the national paranoia. I really like Dean and Kerry, but neither can reach group 3 nearly as well as Clark.
On economic issues, perhaps the best person is Edwards. Thus, we need to consider Clark-Edwards as the ticket to victory. Think of the debates! Would Bush wear his "power rangers" halloween costume to debate Clark? And Edwards' strong suit is one-on-one debate. His experience as a trial lawyer is representing the little guy's interest against the insurance machine.
Dean would have to have a place in any democratic administration. The candidates are all broadening the platform. But only Clark-Edwards has a great chance of winning the election.

[Alice Franken]

6. That's my dreamteam as well!

Thanks.

[tsipple]

7. Shouldn't Clark Be Taking on *Bush*?

We've certainly come a long way when Dean is considered so dominant that everybody else is running to chase him.

And to think the guy was literally an asterisk in the polls in early 2003.

Let me also say that it certainly takes balls to say you're better equipped to beat Bush when (a) you've never ran in any election, and the other guy just won several; (b) you'll likely be broke while Bush pummels you with unanswered TV ads in late spring and early summer.

But, hey, whatever.

[knight_of_the_star]

8. That's all Wes has been doing

Unlike Dean, he has reserved his barbs and venom for Bush and Bush alone.

[Jerseycoa]

10. Clark does nothing BUT take on Bush

Yeah, he's got balls.

[Rose Siding]

9. The media yearns for a profitable horse race

There is a slim chance that one exists but it is not exactly news, rather analysis.

BTW, anything resembling "wisdom" in "CW" moved out of Washington about 3 years ago.

[TexasSissy]

11. Yee Ha!

[Clark4VotingRights]

12. Amazing. The second the media saw the fund raising numbers

They started saluting the General.

Can't pretend he's invisible any more.

[floridaguy]

22. People like to support a winner . . Wes Clark

As soon as he got in the race, many of us knew. After a month or two, many thousands of us knew. The fact that Clark fundraising is almost parallel to Dean after only 3 months is extremely important.

People realize that Wes Clark is the best chance to put a Democrat back in the White House.

Congratulations Clark supporters on this awesome quarter of fundraising.

Keep up the good work!

[poopyjr]

13. CLARK!!!!!!!

[slinkerwink]

14. not with the new CNN poll, Dean leads Clark by over 14 points...and

is behind Bush by only FIVE points....



CNN: Dean Leads Democrats, Trails Bush by Only 5 Points
Inside Politics reports on a new CNN/Time Poll of 1,004 adult Americans conducted by telephone on December 30 and January 1. Despite constant attacks from the inside-the-beltway pundits and campaigns, who keep charging that Dean is "unelectable," he now trails George Bush by a mere 5 points -- 51% to 46%.

Just to put that into perspective: in April of 1992, Bill Clinton trailed George H.W. Bush by 20 points.

The poll also shows Dean leading the Democratic field at 22%.

[Alice Franken]

15. slinkerwink, does the term

Win the battle

Lose the war





ring a bell?

[BootinUp]

16. Are you gonna post this in every thread now?

just curious.

[Scott Lee]

21. Brie?

[BobbyJay]

18. Ohhh a random CNN poll 3 weeks before a primary!!

Before a single vote has been cast and polling a hypothetical matchup!!

Clinton was 20 points behind Bush in APRIL.

And all you Tsongas, er I mean Dean, people are just so sure he can beat Bush! Golly gee

[Raya]

17. Didn't someone at DU predict this. Think the fix is in. Great!

[BobbyJay]

19. I have some cheese

that would go great with what you're doing.

[Scott Lee]

20. That's odd, I thought the enemy was Bush*?

Ah but I forgot - this is the NEW (self imolating) Democratic Party. My bad.

[jpgpenn]

23. Thanks for the article

:toast:

[Cheswick2.0]

24. is this title revealing or what?

Take on Dean? My guess, this guy is telling us what his true politics are.

[wndycty]

25. Clark will have a big week