Shots Across The Bow

Fresh Meat for the Democratic Grinder

It looks like Gen. Wesley Clark is going to run for President.

He's told friends he's leaning strongly toward entering the contest, he's contacted potential campaign advisers, and he's asked for political advice from many party veterans. The 58-year-old former NATO (search) commander could shake up the crowded field.

Supporters say they've gotten pledges for more than $1 million if Clark enters. With just four months before the first votes are cast, though, Clark would be far behind some of the other candidates in organizing his campaign, raising money and building support in the early states. His earliest allies would be from former President Clinton's Arkansas-based political network.

With the Clinton era dream team behind him, lack of money would be no problem; the Chinese are always ready to lend a helping hand to their friends.

Clark has the opportunity to blow the field away. The primary season is 4 months away, and as I noted earlier, most dems don't even know who is running. The injection of Clark into the mix gives dems a chance to wake up the base and get them involved. If Clark can position himself as to the right of Dean (not too hard; Stalin was to the right of Dean), anti war but pro American (a little tougher, but he may be able to pull it off with his resume), and can articulate a sound National Defense policy (tough, since the energized dem base reject the need for one) he just may steal the nomination, and give Bush a very tough race.

Of course, these are some very big "ifs." It's easy to look good before you run; its looking good while you're running that's tough.

One thing's for certain; the primary just got a lot more interesting.

Posted by Rich at September 12, 2003 2:13 PM | TrackBack