Hartford Courant: Clark Hurts Lieberman Bid

[Larkspur]

Retired General Has Senator's Strengths, And Then Some
http://www.ctnow.com/news/politics/hc-clarkjoe0918.artsep18,1,1243113.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics

September 18, 2003
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON -- One of Joe Lieberman's signature campaign lines is that he's strong where the president is strong - on military matters - but also strong where Bush is weak, on social issues.

Lieberman now has a problem. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who formally entered the presidential race Wednesday, can use the same line, and mention his military resume too.

There's no clear measure of the impact on Lieberman of Clark's last-minute entry. The Connecticut Democrat's campaign says Clark's announcement will hurt Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry most, because it puts another military veteran in the race.

The campaign says Clark also hurts former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean because, as Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, said, "Gen. Clark is a guy who's also opposed to the war but unlike Dean has impeccable foreign policy credentials." Larson is supporting Lieberman.
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[renie408]

1. How can Clark say he is strong on social issues?

His great showing at cocktail parties? He is career military. When do they get a chance to work on social issues? What has he done since he left the military to work on social issues? I thought he worked on CNN?

[RobertFrancisK]

2. I think he'll take Lieberman out of the running

He'll knock out his advantage in pro-defense voters and in the south and moderate states. He hurts Kerry's support a lot and if he can get the AFL CIO endorsement he'll hurt Gephardt quite a bit too. I doubt he'll take tons of support from Dean, but he'll stop Dean's momentum and undecideds will go to Clark instead of Dean.

[DemDogs]

3. Are you talking about

Clark getting the AFL-CIO endorsement? I have nothing against Clark, but that is a total pipe dream.

[renie408]

4. I dunno

The Clark supporters have been talking about it since before he announced.