And so it begins:
http://www.townhall.com/news/politics/200308/PEN20030812a.shtml">TownHall jumps in with some characteristically "fair and balanced" speculation:
-----------------------------------------------------
Clark a Possible Democratic VP Nominee, Analysts Say
(CNSNews.com) - Former Gen. Wesley Clark would run the risk of falling flat as a "single-issue" candidate if he decides to compete with nine others for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, analysts said Monday.
But the former NATO commander could provide valuable national security credentials as a Democratic vice presidential candidate in a contest with Vice President Dick Cheney, the virtually certain Republican VP nominee, they said.
"Military types don't usually do well as candidates, at least initially. He would be seen as basically a 'one-issue' candidate," said Bob Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia and an analyst with the American Conservative Union.
"I think, probably, the better thing for him to do would be to keep his name out there as a possible vice-presidential nominee for the Democrats," Barr said.
Larry Sabato, a political scientist with the University of Virginia, said there was "a slight chance" Clark's candidacy could catch fire like the previous candidacies of Ross Perot and Jesse Ventura.
However, Democrats are not likely to nominate someone who has not been active in the party and has never served in elective office. While Clark is seen as someone who could attract independent votes, his appeal currently is largely media-generated and therefore hard to gauge, Sabato said.
"He might be considered for vice president because, if Howard Dean is the nominee, he's going to be looking for a Southerner - Clark is from Arkansas. He'll be looking for someone who can add national security credentials, and Clark could do that," Sabato said.
-----------------------------------------------------