Clark Backers Raise $1 Million

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Activists trying to persuade Wesley Clark, the retired four-star general, to run for president said Monday that by this weekend they would have $1 million pledged to finance a bid for the White House.

THE GROUP BEHIND draft-wesleyclark.com told a Washington briefing that it had helped mobilize 30,000 people to write letters to Clark urging him to stand.

Polling data compiled by Zogby International also showed Clark was just beginning to prick the U.S. public consciousness, making it into the top five most popular contenders for the Democratic nomination.

The opinion polls and the draftwesleyclark.com news conference showed just as convincingly that Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont once dismissed as a long-shot for the nomination, is now in the lead.

The Zogby poll put support for Dean’s candidacy at 16.6 per cent, clearly on an upward trend. Clark got 4.9 per cent, having barely — if at all — registered in previous polls.

<...>

http://www.msnbc.com/news/957432.asp?0cv=CB20

DTH

[Doctor Pedantic]

1. Aren't You Missing Something?

From the same article:

"The attention being generated by Clark’s would-be campaign workers — coupled with the momentum being built by the Dean campaign — is fueling speculation that Clark is being positioned as an ideal running mate for the former Vermont governor.

Dean has been a vocal opponent of President George W. Bush’s decision to go to war in Iraq, which has earned him recognition and support among the ranks of anxious and angry Democrats.

Clark, the former NATO allied supreme commander, would therefore add much needed national security credentials to a possible Dean ticket, Democratic strategists say."

I'm worried that Clark would steal some of Dean's thunder -- and momentum -- and would like to see him stay out this time. On paper, he seems like a great addition to the ticket, and a good candidate in his own right. But his lack of political experience concerns me.

I guess I'm still leaning towards Graham as a running mate for Dean. If Clark solidly endorses that ticket and campaigns hard for Dean, I think Dean could get much of the benefit Clark supposedly would add to the ticket. And then President Dean could appoint Clark as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs or Secretary of State.

From what I've seen, I like Clark -- I just don't want to see him screwing things up for my boy Howard!

[CookieD]

2. You can't be serious

You can lean towards Graham as a running mate for Dean all you want. Graham would never go for it. Graham doesn't even like Dean.

And while we're at it, how come no one ever considers DEAN as a possible running mate for someone else? Is that just impossible to fathom??

[tjdee]

4. Because he's the frontrunner months before the primaries, that's why!

Everybody knows that nothing is going to change before January.

Get with it!
</sarcasm>

What I don't understand is why people think Clark would be Dean's VP based on "several meetings" together. Once again, for all we know Dean saw him on CNN and called him up to pick his brain on foreign policy.

[Doctor Pedantic]

6. Ummm....

No one knows whether Graham would go for it or not. It's all speculation. Fun, but speculation nonetheless.

And history is filled with running mates who didn't like each other, including Reagan and Bush (remember the latter's attack on Reaganomics as "voodoo economics"?)

I'm sure there are people who have thought about Dean as a potential running mate, including Clark's. I just happen not to be one of them.

So, yes, I am serious! And BTW -- love the photo attached to your post!

[CookieD]

11. Good Point ...

That's a valid point about Reagan and Bush. They certainly weren't fond of one another. And as far as Graham being too old to run as second fiddle to a semi-liberal eastern governor, let's not forget that Lloyd Bentson ran as VP to Dukakis in '88. Wasn't Bentson about 106 years old at the time?? (Lol.) :)

I guess Graham would do it for the good of the party but he probably wouldn't be too excited about it. My money is still against it.

[davidinalameda]

3. just because he has never held elected office

doesn't mean he doesn't have political experience

you don't get to his position in the Pentagon and NATO without being able to play the game with the big boys.

[dfong63]

5. electoral politics is a different game,

... and Clark has a great big zip in that column.

this presidential contest is the equivalent of a heavyweight title bout. it'd be foolish to send in a guy who has never been in the ring before - no matter how big his ego. Clark is no more qualified to be president, than Arnold Schwarzenegger is to be governor.

[schultzee]

10. He instills confidence and trust because of his careers. Remember

Dwight Eisenhower, of of several decent good presidents who did not have a great deal of political experience.

[salin]

8. Think of it another way

I believe the only way any democratic candidate can beat teambush - is to develop - at low cost - a very widespread (grassroots) organization in each state - not just "early primary" or "winnable" states. THis has not always been feasable.

But - Dean has proven the ability to use the internet and growing momentum to put an organization in place (including many far flung places) - at a rate that I believe surprises even the Dean campaign.

Add - Clark - who isn't in the race but is also demonstrating a grasslevel ground swell that could mirror the Dean group.

Then think - with their growing momentum (both campaigns) and ability to raise nontraditional money (not relying on the DLC as corporate fundraiser broker) - there could be TWO on the ground networks that could be utilized as a national campaign for the eventual democratic candidate.

Then think that, at least from the sample of DUers, Dean and Clark seem to attract similar folks (how many state publically - I like x even though I am behind y). Thus while there may be some attrition from the network of the candidate who does not win the primaries - it might not be huge.

Bingo Bango a grassroot organization that can do the leg work, the call work, the local media work - to combat the vicious GOP media campaign that we know will be launched against any democrat.

Another exciting thing would be if one of the other front runner campaigns (Say Kerry or Edwards or even Kucinich) could mobilize another ground swell to counter the growing Dean and Clark momentum - by pulling in folks who normally don't get involved in the process beyond voting in the primaries - but decide to get involved in a hands on local way as the only way to make sure that their candidate remains competitive. Then there would be a third potential network (even after attrition) of on the ground folks motivated beyond voting - to fight on behalf of the democratic candidate.

I think that the whole mobilization that we have seen with Dean, and are now seeing start to emerge with Clark - is incredibly powerful. We may yet take our democracy back! Power to the People folks!

[TacticalPeek]

12. Grok the system.

A while back, talkingpointsmemo.com had an interesting bit from one of Josh Marshall's readers, noting his experience with Dean vs Lieberman fundraising him. He was fairly impressed with the Dean system's effectiveness.

As you note of the emerging Clark system, the new and compatible means of effect could result in that old black magic: more than the sum of it's parts.

Put me down for the yellowdog system:

[schultzee]

9. Anybody but bu$h! We need to attack bu$h and get rid of him,

and I will support anyone right now. We are in deep stuff with our man bu$h, and if he is elected this time, we can look forward to war, Corportism, and the end of the middle class and democracy as we know it.

[Kahuna]

13. I know that Dean is fueling speculation that Clark would make a ..

"good VP." Way to marginalize a candidate (if he runs), Dean. :puke:

[realFedUp]

7. Easier to pledge

when you don't have to give unless he's in.

I don't have an opinion of him yet, so don't flame me.

[Kahuna]

14. No flame. As one of the pledgers I can tell you this...

If he runs, I will double my pledge.