John Ellis : General Clark and Anybody But Dean

[Manix]

It is an article of faith among professional politicians that a divisive primary battle can be fatal to a successful general election campaign. Richard Nixon once told a bewildered group of visitors to his Saddle River Elba that Rep. John Ashbrook's primary challenge had been a major distraction of the 1972 re-election campaign. Most of those gathered had no memory of Ashbrook or the Ashbrook campaign (it began and ended with the New Hampshire primary) and couldn't imagine that it had caused the former president a moment's worry. But Nixon was adamant on the point. Divisive primaries were, he said, in all cases and without exception, "bad news."

Incumbents can, if they're skillful, avoid primary challenges, but what if yours is the out party? The presidential primaries and caucuses produce your nominee; the road back to the White House begins with 7-10 hyper-ambitious people killing each other off to become The One. So what does a political party do to minimize the damage of that fight?

http://www.techcentralstation.com/091903A.html

[joeybee12]

1. He's right about why they drafted Clark...

...and that's what's bugging me. Two days ago I would have said Clark is a good thing, now I think his candidacy is simply a ploy by a Dem leadership that is very out of touch.

Thank you for laying down and dying after the 2000 debacle.

Thanks for 2002.

[Upfront]

2. Hope this isn't true.

However it looks like it may be. If Clark is in fact a DLC choice I don't even want him as A VP. Dean is trying to break the corporate chains by raising money from the little guy. Nothing much will be different if Dean fails. He won't fail if my vote has anything to do with it. School is still out on Clark but I don't like what I am hearing.

[pfitz59]

3. Beware John Ellis!

Shrub's cousin! Family name, as in: John Ellis (J.E.B.) Bush. I'm assuming this one is the same John Ellis who called Dubya a 'winner' hours before the polls closed!

[Myra]

4. There are some backers of Clark that are very persuasive to me

Michael Moore, President Clinton, Steven Speilberg.
Too soon to know for sure about Clark, but I do
trust the above mentioned people.