After Strong Fundraising, Clark Sets Sights On Dean (AP 1/1)

[KittyWampus]

WASHINGTON — After separating from the pack as the only Democratic presidential candidate to give Howard Dean (search) a late-year run for the money, Wesley Clark (search) is mapping his final sprint to become the Democrats' alternative to Dean.

"It's now clear that I'm one of only two candidates in a position to win the nomination," Clark, a retired general, said in a statement issued Thursday. "And I'm the only candidate positioned to actually win the election because I am the candidate best able to stand up to George W. Bush and win the debate about who will best be able to make our country secure over the next four years."

snip

Now that Clark has raised more than $10.5 million in the final quarter and is getting $3.7 million in federal matching money, his campaign provided a road map this week of how he plans to capitalize on his strong financial position. They hope to carry their fund-raising momentum into January by raising another $4 million during the month. "We will have ample resources to compete well into February and beyond," said campaign spokesman Matt Bennett. Clark is in relatively strong position in polls both nationally and in states with early contests.

snip

Starting Monday, Clark plans a carefully orchestrated introduction of domestic and security proposals. Clark plans to roll out a "signature issue" on the domestic front Monday, though aides wouldn't discuss specifics.

For a week in mid-January, the former NATO commander plans to address different aspects of domestic and economic security every day — including a detailed homeland security plan. During that week, he will focus his campaign on New Hampshire and states with contests in early- to mid-February.

snip

The Clark campaign is counting on its roots as an Internet movement to help build a strong grass roots presence, both traditional and online.

sorry for the link source but it's an AP story...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,107183,00.html

[deacon]

1. As long as he doesn't resort to the loser tactrics of lieberman and...

kerry.

Godspeed

[PassingFair]

2. Anyone ...

got the stats as to where this money came from? Just curious...

[kainah]

3. I'll bet he regrets pulling out of Iowa

I think that was a mistake. But we shall see. I do wish him well but, even more, I hope Dean & Clark can figure out a way to team up for the sake of the party and the country. Of course, that's what people did back in the good old days when policy was more important than politics. I'd like to believe that both Clark and Dean are politicos of that stripe, but..........

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Actually quite unusual in US History

the last two to do this were bush and Reagan, though they may still do it

Remember Bush said of reagan economics, those are voodoo economics... and then he joined him as VP. But it is actually rare.

And yes I woudl not mind a Clark, \ Dean, or Dean \ Clark ticket... just don't count on it

[RamboLiberal]

10. Kainah I'm with you on all counts

I wish Clark has stayed in the Iowa race. I'm very impressed with his fundraising. I think he and Dean are running the smartest campaigns, and in fact even though I lean to Dean, I think lateley Clark has come out with some great attacks against the Bush administration. I do think Clark is Rove's worst nightmare.

I will be a happy camper if either Dean or Clark win the Democratic nod. And while at the moment my money is going to the Dean campaign, if Clark pulls out the nom I'll be glad to support him financially. I think the General is a class act and has a great chance of beating Bush.

I hope Dean and Clark find a way to settle their little squabble and put the country ahead of it. The biggest Rove nightmare would be either a Dean/Clark or a Clark/Dean ticket. Those two campaigns united would sure provide the "sneakers on the ground" and a fundraising capability that could match anything the Repugs could mount.

We can take this hill!

[MODemocrat]

19. Clark and Dean need to be supporting each other

that is if they are really serious about beating Bush. They could lose one another's votes if they don't stop this squabbling with each other. They are both too intelligent to be doing that. Just my thoughts. I'm very proud of both of them. :thumbsup: :loveya:

[Melinda]

5. Posted in the wrong spot and self-deleted

My oops. :eyes:

[BeyondGeography]

6. Clark's in it to win it

He's an old soldier, and he always wants to take the next hill.

Yeah, I ripped that off of American Son.

[dfong63]

14. a bad analogy

He's an old soldier, and he always wants to take the next hill.

"taking the next hill" suggests the heroic act of a soldier subjecting himself to danger and perhaps sacrificing his or her life, in order to further the nation's goals. here, Clark is simply vying for a position of power and honor for himself, there is no sacrifice involved.

[IndianaGreen]

7. The point is that none of the 4 candidates that voted for IWR

win the nomination!

[Justice]

8. Funny That This Was On Fox Because

I watched Fox tonight - Brit Hume et al - and they talked about everyone but Clark. It was Lieberman, Gephardt blah blah blah, and Dean. Clark was mentioned in passing, and not when they were talking about the south.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Incredible, isn't it?

Clark basically matched Dean with money for the quarter (once matching funds are included), has moved up to a solid third in NH, drew big crowds all over the South last week (you know, the region where we basically have to BEG for votes)and what do we get from the media but a bunch of white noise?

Can't say it overly concerns me. Thank God for the Internet. It keeps you two weeks ahead of the mainstream media if you keep your head in the game.

[Clark4Prez]

12. I noticed the same thing on CNN

They did a four minute segment on the Democratic candidates. Three and a half minutes were about Dean and Dean's house parties. The other 30 seconds was Lieberman.

We had just been to one of the stops on Clark's True Grits southern tour, and the excitement was amazing, but you wouldn't even know he was running from watching TV. In fact, we had a nice discussion with our cab driver on the way over about Clark. He was an African-American man and we told him about Clark's record and the fact that Young and Rangel are on his steering committee. He said he hadn't paid much attention so far, because the news was only talking about one candidate. But, by the time we were done with our ride, I think we had moved one vote over from the undecided column.


I think this goes along way to explaining why the polls are running the way they are.

[alittlelark]

21. Clark gets almost no media coverage....

because the BFEE controlled media does what they're told to do. * and Rove are terrified of Clark.

[KittyWampus]

11. Interesting- Fox & Yahoo Have Different Renditions Of This AP Story

Fox's rendition of the AP story favors Dean citing his strength while Yahoo favors Clark... both from the same AP story but Yahoo cites Clark in strong position. Fox cites Dean's strenth.

Thanks to DU'er Ignatiusr for pointing this out.

Yahoo Release Excerpt:

"We will have ample resources to compete well into February and beyond," campaign spokesman Matt Bennett said.

Clark is in relatively strong position in polls both nationally and in states with early contests.

As Clark tries to narrow the race to two candidates, other campaigns are likely to start diverting some of their relentless attacks on Dean."

Fox News Release Excerpt:

"We will have ample resources to compete well into February and beyond," said campaign spokesman Matt Bennett. Clark is in relatively strong position in polls both nationally and in states with early contests.

Dean leads in national polls and in New Hampshire as well as some states with early contests.

As Clark tries to narrow the race to two candidates, other campaigns are likely to start diverting some of their relentless attacks on Dean."

[stickdog]

17. Fox News & 29 other outlets

http://news.google.com/news?q=%22Dean+leads+in+national+polls+and+in+New+Hampshire%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&filter=0

[dfong63]

13. Clark's argument is deeply flawed

first, George W Bush has no credentials himself in the department of "making America more secure". none. saying we need a general to "stand up to George W Bush" is giving Bush way more credit than he deserves. it's like saying we need Mike Tyson to stand up to Mickey Mouse.

second, if Clark's logic was right and "only a general" can make us secure, then we're doomed to elect only generals for the rest of our lives. i find that notion offensive, that he thinks generals are more qualified to lead the country than any civilian can be. if Clark were right, then why is it that the nation elected CIVILIAN leaders during the major world wars, during the cold war, etc? the implications of Clark's argument are staggering.

third, it's an insult to the generals still in uniform, and to our men and women in uniform, for Clark to say that we need a general in the white house to make us secure - because he's implicitly saying that they are unable to adequately defend the US in the event that someone else wins the presidency. again, the implications are staggering.

fourth, Clark is letting Bush set the terms of the debate. Bush WANTS the debate to be focused on "national security". presidential elections usually turn on the state of the economy; and Bush's stewardship has been especially disastrous there, more clearly so than in the area of "national security". that's why Bush's strategy and main hope is to endlessly talk about "security" and not the economy. Clark's argument is allowing Bush to fight on his preferred turf. unfortunately for Clark, it'll be easy for the rightwing spin to make Bush's performance in that area look great. because there's no objective, quantitative measure of "national security". unlike the economy.

fifth, none of the wars Clark fought in did anything to make this country more secure.

Clark's argument is deeply flawed.

[nightperson]

15. This article makes a case for Kerry!

Maybe I'm just stubbornly delusional, but I came away from this article thinking that the Clark vs. Dean battle may be very helpful to Kerry. I'll admit I'm no expert on the current themes of either the Dean or Clark campaigns, but two quotes were very interesting. First, Clark goes way beyond anything I've seen Kerry saying and actually states that he is the "only candidate positioned to actually win the election" because unlike Dean (Clark's implication-not mine!!!), he is seen as credible regarding national security. Second, Dean spokesman Carson says Clark and others taking matching funds will be "flat broke after the primary campaign and sitting ducks for President Bush", who has already raised $115 million. Who is considered by the average sane American to have as much foreign policy savvy and credibility as anyone in the race, and does not have "money issues"? Kerry.

[stickdog]

16. Clark won't attack Dean. That is the job of his sacrificial DLC lambs

Lieberman, Gephardt and Kerry.

Face it, folks. This game has been rigged against Dean just as assuredly and completely as Florida was rigged against Gore.

[MODemocrat]

20. I believe it is being rigged against Dean

and probably by some people that I've long admired until now. They will not bring Dean as easily as they think. I'm going to hold with him until the end.:mad: :think: :argh:

[farmbo]

18. Clark sold out his electability...for a mere $3.7 million Fed match.

He will now be legally prohibited from spending money-- from April to August--to counter the $200 million Rovian Mudslide which will engulf him should he manage to overtake Dean. If he beats Dean-- and that's a huge "if"-- he's toast once he reaches the spending limit.

What were they thinking?

Where are the grownups in his campaign?

[Politicub]

22. I'm a Dean supporter

but I'm looking forward to seeing Clark's policy proposals.

I hope that Clark and Dean play nice. I'm behind who ever wins the Democratic primary, but we don't need our candidates to roll in the mud. It only helps the right.