Is the Clark/Dean 2-man race over?

[Lauren2882]

So it seemed to me that just last week all signs were pointing to a 2 man race between Clark and Dean. Now the whole shape of the race seems to have changed dramatically: Dean is slipping in Iowa, and Kerry is surging there, making in more likely that he'll have the momentum to give Clark a run for his money in New Hampshire.

Are most people in agreement with this analysis? Also, a Clark supporter, should I be worried about Kerry?

[funky_bug]

1. Perhaps not worried

For one, we want our strongest fighter to emerge the winner. While you and I hope that Clark will get the nod, we should be encouraged by the fact that whoever runs against Clark will have behind him the experience needed to fight the good fight.

Regionally speaking, I'm not sure Kerry has the south, so I'm confident that IA will boost his campaign, but not boost his chances in any significant way.

[Lauren2882]

4. Good points

1.) Since we all want the best candidate to get the nomination, it is a good thing that other campaigns have been heating up -- it had always been puzzling to me that Kerry had been plummeting and that Edwards never caught fire, as both seemed to me to be really strong candidates.

2.) You're right, I think Kerry has virtually no support in the South. However, Edwards, another candidate who is surging in Iowa, does.

I think the bottom line for Clark is that while just last week it looked like his task was simple-- to effectively make the case that he was better than Dean -- it is now more complicated as he has to fight off more canddiates.

[funky_bug]

11. But Lauren

I don't think Clark ever intended to "effectively make a case" that he was better than Howard Dean. I believe he has only made that case that he is better than GB. I just pray Michael Moore and Lehane behave themselves, lest I see a clear inter-party bashing going on that my candidate is now stuck in the fray of. I will have a hard time lending my support to Kerry or Gephart or Dean because they have been a party to that kind of negative campaigning that I find so distasteful. That's why Edwards is my #2.

[DaisyUCSB]

2. It still exists in all the later states

there has been no evidence of Kerry or Edwards getting more than anemic support in any of the Febuary or march states

[Lauren2882]

5. Even South Carolina?

I thought Edwards was tied for first with Clark there.

[Democrats unite]

3. As a Clark supporter along with you...

I am not discounting anyone. Kerry will Give Clark a run for his money, better than any of the other candidates.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

6. Depends on what sort of org Kerry has in other states and how he's doing

there.... You have to have people "up and running" in all of the earlier states.

Last I checked, he was in fifth place in all the Feb 3 primaries - except Missouri - where he was third. He was losing in Mass. (his home state) to Dean.

[lurk_no_more]

7. Kerry's the only one that can knock Clark out

but I don't see that happening, I'm Clark #1 and Kerry #2 so either way it's a win for me but as much as I respect and admire Kerry, I think against Clark my #1 will still prevail.


Wesley Clark...and then there were none!
” JAFO”

[deminflorida]

8. Clark was only hoping for 3rd or 4th in N.H. in the first place..

To even think that he could pull an upset in that state is a tribute to his campaign and grass-roots supporting cast. He as emerged as the only true political outsider running in this campaign and people like that.

South Carolina and the rest of the Feb. 3 states are going to be huge for everyone, and it will be there that I believe Clark nails the door shut on probably the rest of the candidates. He's polling well in Arizona, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and New Mexico...

One day at a time, stay on message and take the high ground. He just can't fall into the tiger trap like Dean did in Iowa and go negative.

Besides as far as defending the General it's just like someone posted a while back, he has his Camp Soldiers for that...and I'm damn proud to be one of them...

:kick:

[Toucano]

9. I'm a little worried about Kerry

but as a Democrat, not as a Clark supporter.

The republicans have hijacked medicare, making it med-i-don't-care, but hijacked the issue nonetheless.

The "guest" worker program is designed to appeal to Hispanic voters.

Their goal is to confuse voters by minimizing the differences between us and them.

Kerry's IWR vote (which I don't view as indefensible, as others do) helps them blur the distinctions further.

I worry they will be able to deflect Kerry's criticism by citing his vote, should he be the nominee. The violence and death toll continue to rise. I think the RNC will be able to cut his legs out from under him because Kerry's explanation (though reasonable, IMO) for voting in favor of the resolution is much more complicated than the vote itself. The explanation will be lost on the electorate, but the vote will remain.

Our best chance to defeat GWB is (alphabetically) Clark, Dean, or Kucinich.

[Maddy McCall]

10. I'd be alarmed if it came down to Dean vs. Clark, b/c I don't like Dean

But I adore Kerry and Clark. If the battle comes down to Kerry and Clark, or Kerry and Edwards, or Clark and Edwards, I will be glad to vote for any of the three.

Any of the three have real chances to beat Bush in the general.

I just don't see that happening with Dean.

[Jerseycoa]

12. Never underestimate John Kerry

That's the rule to go by. I would prefer seeing Clark against Dean, it would be a clearer fight. Clark against Kerry is a whole lot more complex, however more interesting. I'm for Clark first, Kerry second, Edwards third. Any of them winning the nom is fine by me. But I want Clark to do extremely well in NH going into the South and the extreme part comes with Dean, not Kerry.

[andym]

13. Who knows? It may become a Kerry/Edwards race

Who knows? It may become a Kerry/Edwards race with Dean and Clark acting as potential spoilers. Wouldn't that be ironic!

[buckeye1]

14. Can We wait for some votes?

That is why we have elections. There might be a dead heat in Iowa. That will make for some fun. The media will have to notice.

[bowens43]

15. It never was a two man race.

Clark doesn't have a shot.