Clark jumps ahead of rivals in state

[Renew Deal]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20031015-9999_1n15field.html

By John Marelius
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

October 15, 2003

FIELD POLL
Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, the newest entry into the 2004 Democratic presidential race, has shot to the top of the pack in California, according to a new Field Poll.

Only four weeks after joining the crowded race, the former NATO supreme commander has moved ahead of his competitors in California as he has in national polls.

Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo said it is too soon to tell whether Clark's candidacy has staying power or has simply supplanted former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean as the "flavor of the month."

One thing that does seem clear, the pollster said, is that just as California voters turned to political outsider Arnold Schwarzenegger in ousting Gov. Gray Davis in last week's recall election, there is a growing preference for a non-Washington candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[CMT]

1. interesting

Good news for all of our candidates.

[diplomats]

10. The guy quoted says the fact the matchups are close

is a sign Bush has a fighting chance to win Calif. I disagree completely. His approval rating is well under 50 percent in that state, and you don't win a state where your rating is under 50 percent. Plus, the undecideds traditionally go overwhelmingly toward the challenger. Also, we don't even have a clear front-runner. When he emerges and the party unites behind him, his numbers will go up.

[Wickerman]

2. So, is this an indirect nod to the tinfoil hatters of BBV in California

last week? Clark and Dean gain support even as the Calis inexplicably vote in Arnie the groper. Polls this early are stupid, but something doesn't mesh.

[jayfish]

3. What Is With The % Of People Who Call Themselves Democrats

voting for Little Shrub in this and other polls I have seen?

Jay

[Blue_Roses]

5. I was wondering the same thing

why do they even call themselves Democrats...we don't need people like that.

[Larkspur]

4. Clark is a Washington insider

I find it interesting that people ignore his military and MIC corporate lobbyist connections to the Washington Establishment.

[eileen_d]

6. Perhaps people don't ignore them

but simply don't put as much weight on them as you do?

[diplomats]

7. Um, Washington insiders in this context are the candidates

who are elected officials in Washington. Dean and Clark do not fall into this category.

[Donna Zen]

8. MIC?

links

[Renew Deal]

9. Wasn't Dean in the DLC?

He still holds positions that are even to the right of the DLC. And what was he doing messing with Gingrich in the 90's. It sounds like he might have some beltway influence.

[Donna Zen]

11. ssshhhhh!

n/t

[jamesinca]

14. Lets perpetuate the Republican spin

Dean grew up in a republican household, he admits that.

Dean went to the RNC as a teenager, he was given tickets, he admits that.

His mother changed parties to vote Dem and support her son, he admits that.

He agreed with Gingrich in that Medicare needs to be reformed, he admits that.

He disagrees with Gingrich in how to do it. He admits that, the repugs don't and that is the spin on trying to damage him.

He is fiscally conservative, or responsible. He admits that, the repugs don't they label him as to liberal.

He is to the right and to the left of different people and groups on different issues, all candidates are this way. He is not a a single issue candidate, he admits this.

Because he was the Gov. of VT for over a decade he had the opportunity to meet other politicians outside of VT. I think it comes with the job. Even Rep. Kucinich, who is to the left of most, knows people in D.C.

[robbedvoter]

12. Here's a better headline - and the AP deceitful one

Clark streaks to lead among Democrats
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/7603215p-8544053c.html
The former general's rapid rise sucks the wind out of Dean's
momentum in state.

on the same poll:



Clark, Dean, Lieberman bunched atop California poll

TOM CHORNEAU, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, October 15, 2003

(10-15) 07:51 PDT SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) --

In a state where a political novice was just elected governor,
another candidate with no political experience -- Wesley Clark --
joined presidential rivals Howard Dean and Joe Lieberman atop a poll
of Democratic voters in California.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

13. AP's Actually More Accurate

Clark's lead is still within MOE. But I do enjoy the SacBee title better, certainly! ;-)

DTH