Clark Campaign Suffers From Late Entry Into Race

[Vis Numar]

AP story by Will Lester looking into the Clark campaigns meltdown... Eli Siegal spells a DC takeover of the campaign...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99504,00.html

WASHINGTON — Some in the Internet grass-roots movement that helped give rise to Wesley Clark's candidacy are frustrated with the direction the 3-week-old campaign is taking under the guidance of former advisers to Democrat Al Gore (search).

On the DraftClark.com (search) Web site Wednesday, an open letter to readers said: "By the time you read these words, the bell will be tolling for Wesley Clark's candidacy. It will be clear across the country that the campaign of Wesley Clark (search) is nothing more than the Gore campaign with a better candidate."

The sudden departure of Clark's campaign manager Donnie Fowler (search) reflects the rift between the more traditional campaign strategists, many of whom worked for Gore's unsuccessful presidential bid in 2000, and the new guard pushing an Internet-driven effort.

[KittyWampus]

1. Hardly A "Melt Down" Vis

Unlike Kerry, who's had YEARS to work on his campaign, I'd say Clark is doing okay for entering relatively late.

And Stirling's letter said more about him than about the Organization.

[Kool Kitty]

20. That's what I thought, too.

I agree with both your points.

[davidinalameda]

2. what meltdown?

the campaign manager quit and it's a meltdown?

and this is the opinion of who?

I don't think that the average person really gives a flying rat's butt who the campaign manager is, I certainly don't

I'm supporting Clark because I think he's the best candidate and I know that he can beat Bush.

I'm just wondering what other candidate, if any, is pushing this view of a meltdown.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Faux Is Flogging This Story In The Hope Of Destroying Clark

so we can offer up cannon fodder in 04.....


How did the 60's song go....


When will they ever learn... When will they e v e r learn...

[Lefty48197]

8. On a warm San Franciscan night.

When will they ever learn?

[w4rma]

27. Jeeze. Quit it DemocratSinceBirth

This field of Democrats is fantastic. And the ones who are in the top two tiers are all about as far as one could get from being "cannon fodder".

We know you like Clark, but you don't have to bash the rest of the Democratic field while doing so.

[Mz Pip]

4. This is silly

Dean's first manager quit, too. Where was all the press about that? I really don't see this as being that much of a problem. Better to dust out the wrinkles early on that to have them blow up later into the campaign

MzPip
:dem:

[roguevalley]

5. Since when can we believe a 'journalist'?

They have no credibility with me anymore. I hope
all our campaigners keep going and doing what it
takes to get Bush out.

[mike_c]

15. since they predicted Ah-nold would win the governorship?

eom

[KittyWampus]

18. More Like They Ensured Arnold Got The Governship

By providing adoring non-stop coverage which could only be seen as free campaign advertising...

By not asking him any tough questions or holding him accountable for his lack of depth....

By their not mentioning the lawuit for damages against Enron...

[Lefty48197]

6. I'll trade a couple of internet couch jockies

for Clinton and Gore's political advisors anyday.

[stickdog]

29. Of course you would. (NT)

[kainah]

7. I support Clark....

although I preface that with an I'll support any Dem nominee... but this is a very serious, thoughtful article that should be read by everyone who is interested in Clark.

It is crisis that makes men into statesmen, and separates leaders from followers. What must be done now is swift and dramatic action: it must be made clear that Clark is not a follower of the old politics and can step forward and staunch the bleeding. This is because the resignation makes all of the small irregularities and missteps of the campaign count as problems, and they will be brought forward. People here who think that this is the end of Clark's problems are deceving themselves. Now that the recall is over, and the spy flame has died down - a new news cycle has started, and Clark is on the menu. If he does not meet this head on, he will be swamped by every single error made. The man who runs as Mr. Clean, must, in fact be clean. Clark must prove he can run his campaign, the way he runs his mouth.

http://www.draftclark.com/archives/004484.shtml#004484

If you've been listening to the media the last few days, you will recognize that this is dead on concerning how the media is acting. Remember what they did to Clinton and to Gore. The media just elected the governor of California. If they decide to eat Clark, they will do it and this article is full of excellent advice for the campaign. Take some time to read this.

[Kahuna]

9. The media has already decided to eat Clark. Clark..

is a severe threat to Chimpy and the establishment (read: PNACers).

The media was sure that democrats would shun Clark because of his military credentials. To their chagrin, they were wrong. Boy were they wrong. There is so much postitive that they could report about the Clark campaign. But nary a positive word. They could report that not only is Clark leading the national polls but he has also lead in polls for NY, CA, WI, AL and OK. To my knowledge, that's more state polls than any of the other candidates. They want to play down Clark's popularity and dwell on the negative in hoped that it will dampen his momentum.

[stickdog]

30. This is the one of the first negative things I've seen

And it was self-inflicted.

And it's a big deal.

So cut the persecution complex until there's a full frontpage expose of Clark's lobbying activities since leaving the military.

[Julien Sorel]

13. This is sour grapes, not serious.

In fact, reading this, I can see why this guy wasn't offered a position in the campaign. Clark 'could have vaulted to 40% and walked to the nomination.' Sure he could have. And this guy knows the secret.

[childslibrarian]

10. Getting Clinton's campaign manager onboard is a meltdown?

In their dreams...

[Lexingtonian]

11. It's not a meltdown

Lester is right about certain things, as I see it. The Gore poll-reliant/machine-based approach falls short in 2003, but the Internet/'grass roots' approach is itself inadequate too. Dean partisans are in obvious denial that that last part is what the polling numbers are telling, but that seems to be the argument that the ex-Gore people are making and winning within the Clark campaign.

The Clark campaign just happens to be, due to its late start, where all the developments of the '04 campaign in the other camps to date are being discovered and sorted out. I think Lester is wrong to make the late start the reason for what looks like its eventual failure, though that's going to be the Conventional Wisdom and Clark's eventual excuse, and a sufficient half-truth.

It's not a meltdown. It's a learning experience. The campaign that discerns the proper lessons hidden in this conflict- how to merge the two adequately and in time- deals itself the winning hand. (I personally don't see the potential for doing so in the Dean, Gephart, or Edwards campaigns, though.)

[kainah]

16. good analysis, Lexingtonian

I agree that it is not a meltdown and I agree with whomever above (sorry) who says that the media has already decided to eat Clark. The article is certainly more negative than I think is warranted but it makes some points that are worthy of consideration. Too often around here we seem to want to summarily dismiss anything that's inconvenient to our pre-existing position.

[KittyWampus]

19. The Article Posted Here Is From FOX!!!

Why Vis Numar decided to post it is anybody's guess.

[Vis Numar]

22. Not Fox

The article is from Lester of the AP, not Fox News.

[stickdog]

31. Polling numbers aren't telling anything except few are paying close

attention at this early date.

[sjdnb]

12. We need Carville

The only way the Democratic party will get to the 'next level' is to enlist the likes of Carville and others who have the balls to tell it like it is.

The Democratic status quo is just not cutting it.

I have two sons in their 20's and they are incredibly frustrated by what they perceive to be sell-out Democrats. That is why they voted Nader last go around. And, unless we get back to what we are supposed to be, they'll just fade into the woodwork.

They have x-ray like vision and seem to see right through all the bullsh*t so my suggestion is to go back to the party we were before we had handlers.

[newyawker99]

33. Hi sjdnb!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[coralrf]

14. Suffers????

He entered and went right to the top. FOX, (Foreign Owned Xenophobia) is just showing its ass.

There is no reason to post crap like this. Only a faux monkey would believe it and this is not the place to appeal to them. Posts like this are intended to dictate opinion not elucidate it. Fuck this shit.

[Vis Numar]

25. Clark did shoot to the top

He reminds me of those IPO's that opened at $75 and shot up to close at $200 the opening day... I don't see how he is going to win.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. That means Clark or Graham for v.p.

Who's been talking to who?

[AnnitaR]

21. Blech!

:puke:
Okay can we NOT post links to FoxNoNews stories? Do any of us really give a damn about their take on anything? I know I sure as heck don't!

[Vis Numar]

23. Here then

Read the same article on Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3240921,00.html

[newyawker99]

34. Hi AnnitaR!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Vis Numar]

24. On Meltdown

OK, I should have said "netroots meltdown", as obviously it's not the total campaign that's undergoing turmoil... maybe "troubles" instead...

Anyway, I expect this to gain traction over the next few days... MSNBC, CNN... of course the media is going to train onto Clark, what did you expect, a free ride to the nomination?

[PlanetBev]

26. If the Clark campaign turns to shit

we are dead. I truly believe that the only one who can beat Bush is Clark. It's going to be hard to completely destroy a highly decorated general. We need to have the type of campaign that put Clinton over the top. Remember, we're fighting The BFEE and a nation of voting cretins. I should know. They voted in my state yesterday.

[stickdog]

32. We need to offer a real ALTERNATIVE to Bush to give people

A REASON to vote.

Gray Davis in a uniform won't cut it.

[Julien Sorel]

28. This is not the sort of thing that 'gains traction,'

unless it's about a powerhouse campaign. If this happened later in the race, when more people were paying attention and Clark was a dominant front runner, it would be big news. To put it differently, unless you're a Clark supporter, you should hope this blows over, because the media only pay attention to the top dogs.

[Code_Name_D]

35. But braking the campain fiance law is.

Come on, their is a lot more wrong in the campain than a reshufling of the deck chairs. There is some siruse baggedge behind him, he has already ran afowel of campain law (Repugs love that), and Davis's defeat in CA is landing on him like a tun of bricks.

Not only am I not surpised that Clark is lagging in the poll. I predicted it.