As VP nominee, would Clark deliver Arkansas?

[Tummler]

Disclaimers:
* I think Wesley Clark is THE MAN, and you ain't gonna convince me otherwise!
* I think Kerry could certainly have a chance of winning Arkansas without an Arkie on the ticket. However, there are several other swing states where Kerry (minus Clark) would have a better chance (e.g., the industrial Midwest). Therefore, a Kerry win (minus Clark) in Arkansas would probably be part of an electoral blowout, and Arkansas' electors would not cast the decisive votes.

So the gist of my question is: in a close election, where 6 electoral votes could mean victory or defeat, would Wesley Clark's presence on the ticket secure Arkansas for John Kerry?

Pro:
+ He's a native son.
+ His experience, strength, and credibility on defense/security would appeal to Arkansans.
+ His "we live our faith" approach to re-taking the mantle of "family values" would also appeal to Arkansans.
+ His fundraising in Arkansas on behalf of his own campaign was impressive, implying that he has enough support (among both power-brokers and average citizens) to deliver votes.

Con:
- Native son? Clark wasn't born in Arkansas and spent most of his life elsewhere.
- He has never won an election and has no proven base of political support in Arkansas.
- His Clinton connections, tenuous as they are, could bring out the Clinton-haters in droves.
- Generally speaking, people vote for the Presidential nominee, not the VP nominee.

My hunches:
* On balance, the Clinton connection wouldn't hurt a Kerry/Clark ticket in Arkansas. The most rabid Clinton-haters will vote for Bush anyway, but the connection might help among casual or "soft" Clinton supporters.
* The "native son" factor is appealing in any state, but it's especially powerful in a state that has a history of being ridiculed and otherwise crapped upon by the rest of the country (especially the home state of Kerry’s opponent). Case in point: as I recall, Clinton's margin of victory in Arkansas over Bush I and Dole was greater than his margin in some of the tight gubernatorial contests. The desire to see one of our own "make good" (against an all-Texan ticket, no less!) could sway the apolitical/moderate/undecided and increase Kerry/Clark turnout in Arkansas: enough, perhaps, to give Kerry the win.

Thoughts??

[trogdor]

1. We need more than Arkansas

HOWEVER, if the "chickenhawk" thing gets traction, Kerry/Clark would 0WNZ0R Bush/Cheney.

[democratreformed]

2. Wesley Clark IS THE MAN

No one will ever convince me otherwise either. Win or lose, I will always believe the Dems made a bad mistake not choosing him for the nomination. Being from Arkansas, of course, WE cannot be counted in those that made that mistake. THAT still makes me aggravated as well- that our voice and vote will make absolutely no difference whatsoever in this primary.

I have very mixed feelings about Wes as VP. I would personally love it. I feel he could be effective and make a difference in that position.

I want to believe that his saying he does not WANT to be VP is just the normal expected talk; however, I have never known General Clark to not be sincere and honest. And, if he honestly does not want to be VP, I won't ask that of him.

I asked him to try this twisted primary process and look what that put him and his family through. I won't ask him to consider VP if he doesn't want to.

To answer your original question, YES, I believe he would help carry Arkansas AND some other places as well.

[Claire Beth]

6. I was forunate enough to get my picture made with Clark...

He would be great!

[Rowdyboy]

3. Yes he would help in Arkansas but, beyond that, I think he'd help

with men in general (no pun intended), shore up Kerry on international affairs, Iraq, and national defense. Plus he'd humiliate Dick Cheney in any debate.

Yes, Wes was my first choice for president and now he's my top pick for VP.

[Tummler]

4. The first bit of hard evidence that Clark could join the ticket

(Other than the fact that Clark has been one of the most vocal and visible Kerry surrogates.)

From Whorard Fineman at Newsweak:

"In the meantime, behind the scenes, Team Kerry has stepped up the pace of the search for a running mate. Jim Johnson, a longtime friend of Kerry's, is supervising the process, which has fully vetted two contenders so far, Rep. Dick Gephardt and Sen. John Edwards. A third is undergoing the process now, NEWSWEEK has learned. He is retired Gen. Wesley Clark—a further sign of Kerry's interest in the commander theme. And the tight-lipped Johnson, NEWSWEEK has learned, privately expressed considerable interest several weeks ago in Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, who meets several veeply criteria: he's close to Kerry (having helped him win Iowa), he's Roman Catholic (which has become a major plus in national politics) and he's a geographical twofer, having been reared in western Pennsylvania, a key battleground. One insider predicts that Kerry will pick someone by the end of this month—extraordinarily early but perhaps an urgent necessity to fend off GOP attacks."

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4881085

[Adelante]

5. Arkansas a must-win for Bush

Democratic Officials Announce Details Of Kerry Visit
Kerry To Visit Little Rock On Heels Of Bush's River Valley Trip

POSTED: 9:40 pm CDT May 9, 2004
UPDATED: 2:58 pm CDT May 10, 2004

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Presidential candidate John Kerry will campaign in Arkansas Wednesday and Thursday, according to Arkansas Democratic Party officials.

The state Democratic Party's director, Ron Oliver, announced Monday morning that Kerry will arrive late Wednesday afternoon at Little Rock's airport for a rally with retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark. Kerry will then head to the Peabody Hotel for a fund-raiser reception, where he will make brief remarks. On Thursday, Kerry plans to make a speech on health care before heading back to the airport.

Officials said tickets for the airport rally are free and can be picked up at state Democratic Party headquarters.

~snip~

Arkansas is considered a must-win state for Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Bush has already visited Arkansas twice since the beginning of the year.

Wednesday's visit will be Kerry's first campaign visit to the state.

http://www.thehometownchannel.com/news/3286456/detail.html

[LDS Jock]

7. I think Clark would make Arkansas a Kerry state

and also be important in helping some other swing some other boarder southern states, like Tennessee and West Virginia, maybe Oklahoma too.

[ArkDem]

8. I don't know................

on the average, Arkansans are not quick to vote for slow blinking politicians.

[LiberalHawg]

9. >>>

Arkansas is Kerrys if Clark gets it. I heard an O'reilly ditto monkey going on and on about Bush and O'really at the mall the other day his partner asked him about Clark, instant silence.

[democratreformed]

10. I agree with you 100 percent

I have gotten quite a few chuckles out of shutting the rupukes up with Clark's name.

[rogerhall]

11. Love Clark - but if he isn't Prez ...

I'd like to see him as Sec State - and I want Kerry to annouce that the day after he annouces someone else for VP (should he not choose Clark).

I have seen Clark as many times as a poor man can ... but I suspect Edwards has the broader appeal.

Clark would kick Cheney's a** - but I think Edwards could too.

Glad I don't have to make the choice myself tho. :P

Edit: spelling!