If Clark doesn't get traction

[mmonk]

or the campaign to impune him by the repubs or rival campaigns succeed, which of the candidates will champion the questions he wants as an issue such any admin knowledge pre 9/11 of the threats? Who will champion the questions about bush ties to the Saudis or Taliban before 9/11? Who will push the question on whether the war was necessary security wise? I know of three and two may not last much longer in the primaries. In your answer, explain to the best of your ability as to how successful that candidate will be on that issue and your reasons (make a case for me in case the general doesn't make it through the primary process).

[lovedems]

1. I think Clark will gain traction in the South. He needs to make a good

showing in NH and I think he will do great in the south.

[mmonk]

2. I'm hoping so

but I haven't come up with a second choice yet and this is an important question for me.

[Clark Can WIN]

4. kinda early for that isn't it?

Instead go to Clark04.com and spend your energy boosting our New Hampshire numbers by making some phone calls and sending emails.

[mmonk]

8. I'm not giving up

I'm already vested so to speak. It's just I haven't thought about a second choice. Thanks for the pep talk.

[Clark Can WIN]

5. And the midwest too

We should concentrate particularly hard on MO.


GO GETTTEM! GO CLARK!

[MuseRider]

13. I am hearing

a lot of interest in him here in Kansas as well.

[Clark Can WIN]

3. Being grilled on AWOL only helped Clark with the liberal Democrats

of New Hampshire. I don't know WHAT faux was thinking but I have noticed they've not made as big a stink about it today.

They attacked Clark RELENTLESSLY. The questions, each and every one of them were basically "What's wrong with you?" questions and he maintained a POSITIVE demeanor while clearing the record throughout.

I'm proud of the way he stood up for Michael Moore's right to say what he feels, just like he did after the Oscars.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. If Fox is not making an issue today, did they get a call from Rove...

to leave the issue alone? They were in full-on attack last night --

[LuminousX]

11. You got it. They got to cool their heels on that issue or else

the evidence will come forward and it will hurt Bush dramatically.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030411.html

[Quixote1818]

14. The more they Attack on AWOL thing

the more it will blow up in their face later. Fox probably did get a call from Rove or perhaps all the letters they have been getting caused them to research the facts and then they decided "woops" we better shut up or this will come back to haunt us big time.

[PATRICK]

7. Cool it with the pessimism already

Let's roll with history not our nerves. Kerry was too good to go down mumbling because things didn't and actually couldn't go his way in the pre-primary positioning contest. Dean was untested but that doesn't mean that his advantages will now evaporate because of press judgment- and again, DU dismay.

Clark hasn't begun his actually vote-getting yet. The caucuses, where delegate selection erases popular polling, would have been a media feast on what would likely be seen as "coming up short". Dean's meltdown was so fast it was too late for any second thoughts or last minute organization flurry. Edwards threw together a lot(but not all) at the last minute but he had spent a lot of time pressing the flesh to demonstrate his raw vote-getting appeal. Clark reaches a whole different group of voters that may well eat into Kerry support while giving Edwards a run for his money among other groups. Dean may win or actually be a spoiler for just about anyone.

Media stupidity mirrors the worst in political calculations. The campaign advisers(except those that know they are doomed and maybe even some of them) can't believe they can't determine the future- that it resides in the voters- that they don't really get how the voters work despite all the polling. The contest mentality and need for quick news and quicker wisdom is a rolling joke. Kerry is now "the guy" even again- as they did with Dean- almost lead with the factors that prove otherwise.

Out of the media mouths come the conditions- then the ridiculous, immature judgments. Though we accurately mistrust them for other reasons as well we get sucked into the breathless manufactured opinion stratosphere. This happens by way of how we think most people are conditioned by the media. And we pull fake wool over our own eyes?

Nobody said this would be easy- well maybe some ranting optimists did. But was Clinton elected? Was he deposed? The media was dead wrong and pushing the daisies up for Clinton whenever they could get the chips down for him. Especially in primaries, for both parties, the media never got it or got it right. If so, they were lucky.

Let Clark prove himself. The only problems he has are: building up a wide base of support away from other strong candidates and getting himself individually out there to the voters. I still hear on DU the same rote blurbs I hear at work or from reportage on the streets. Every candidate is a tag line until the voter gets to hear the one on one message and BE REASSURED about their character and potential. Debates, if anyone listens, are a rarefied intramural, beat the clock contest, great for choices, but with the impact dissipated among several dueling intelligent issue artists that wobble as they try to make asides to the listeners. It's a lousy place for a stump contact, but it does something. They don't destroy the memes though.

The best thing on TV is actually to watch a campaigner in action, on and off stump, pressing the flesh. There you can see what going right or wrong. But only the mass of voters can decide so we can't project absolutely beyond our insights anymore than the ratings dazzled pundits do.

The news from Iowa is that Kerry is a factor still, which makes the crystal ball cloudy indeed. The other news, barely sinking in to the thick skulls of the media, is that not only is Edwards alive but a personal dynamo in vote-getting, an extremely strong case that Clark can make too, I believe. Dean and Kerry(I go out on a limb here)with their perceived negatives and their two man war may put themselves into real jeopardy and effectively knock each other out- but the real decisions will be made- no surprise- in the next couple of rounds of actual VOTES. Ta-da. Without a clear decision from the North the Southern states may sink our alleged frontrunners like stones. The media designated frontrunners(Dean, Kerry) in fact face a huge obstacle unless they dominate the momentum bigtime. I don't see how they can, but that's me.

Might as well save the handwringing and start socking away some real dough for November.

[Jerseycoa]

9. Grateful to you, Patrick

We all need to slow down and let the race develop. It's not single incidents that will determine anything, but the way they cohere over time into a conclusion. Slow down, Clarksters. We keep our heads down; we do the work. We stop reacting and keep on acting. That's what it takes.

:bounce:

[copithorne]

12. If Clark doesn't get traction...

Then start stocking up on the canned goods. Because four more years of George Bush will destroy this country and I believe that Wesley Clark is the only one with the wattage to take him out.

Fortunately, I think we are doing GREAT. I would not trade our hand of cards for that of any other candidate.

[mmonk]

10. Thanks

I'll go back to work for victory.

[John_H]

15. Relax. if Clark Finishes second in NH, he'll be the frontunner

within two weeks.