I think Clark/Dean would be our best chance.

[GOPBasher]

I love all of our candidates ideologically, with the exceptions of Lieberman and Sharpton, both of whom I like but not as much as the other eight. But in this thread, I'm not talking about who our best candidates are, but just about our best chance of winning. I think Clark at the top of the ticket and Dean as VP is our best bet.

First of all, both candidate opposed the Iraq War, and we'll need ALL of the anti-war voters to vote for our candidate. If any go for a third party candidate, we're in trouble.

Clark can go after Bush on national security, where he has obvious credibility as a 4-star general. He can fight on "traditionally Republican turf," as the GOP is usually the party people trust more with those issues. This is much like Bush in 2000, who had to campaign on traditionally Dem issues such as education, and neutralized our advantage on them. Clark will also, because of his moderate image, get the swing voters and independents, the critical votes for winning an election. I also firmly believe that Clark can get new voters on our side. He's an outsider, a rhodes scholar, a valadictorian at West Point, an excellent speaker, a great debater, a 4-star general and a war hero. Compare all that to Chimp's resume.

Dean would be great as VP. He has done a phenomenal job of motivating the base. His internet fundraising is changing the face of politics; when it comes to raising money, "normal people" can now compete with the huge corporations. Further, his grassroots support is incredibly impressive. He has thousands of volunteers already, and look at how many people his “meet-ups” get. In short, Dean’s rabidly loyal following can make the ticket competitive with Bush in terms of money, and get thousands of volunteers roaming the streets for months before the election. By the way, I do think that Dean’s followers would still be loyal to the ticket, even if Dean were just the VP. (Dean fans, tell me what you think about that. Am I right?)

In short, I think Dean will motivate the base and give us money and volunteers because of his grassroots support; and Clark can get the independents and swing voters, as well as new voters. What do you all think?

[poskonig]

1. Pick a different running mate for Clark.

I respect Dean, but other candidates would be more useful in that spot given Clark's strengths and weaknesses.

[helleborient]

2. I think most of the Dean people would stand firm and work if...

It was clear what role Howard Dean and Joe Trippi would have in the party...if they are ignored, I think those who have put hard work into this campaign would have a difficult time being as enthusiastic. Most of us would still vote, but not necessarily get out and work.

However, if Dean and Trippi both fully embrace the ticket and are given a role, I think most of us will work hard for whomever the candidate is.

[PSU84]

3. Why it must be Clark/Dean...

... and not the other way around:

With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that if Dean gets the nomination, he will be portrayedby Rove & Co. as a draft-dodging gay-marriage loving, Northeastern liberal who does not represent "middle America" and who can't be trusted with defending the nation from terrorists. The GOP could not construct a more ideal opponent if they had tried.

Meanwhile, we have in Wesley Clark a candidate who has no "social
issues" baggage that can be used against him in attack ads; whose
credentials in foreign policy and national security are vastly
superior not only to Dean's, but to Bush's; who is articulate,
intelligent, and (not unimportant to some voters) handsome; who has
spoken passionately in defense of civil liberties, affimative action,
protecting the environment, extending health care to all Americans,
improving education, preserving Social Security, reaching out to our
allies instead of isolating ourselves from them, and of using force
as a last resort rather than as the "easy" way to solve problems
abroad. And yet the press remains obsessed with "gotcha" journalism,
and the public hears nothing except how Clark's campaign "has failed
to fulfill its early promise." I am just so angry right with the press coverage of this campaign that I feel like kicking the furniture.

I can't stand the thought of a second Bush term. It will mean
privatization of Medicare, budget caps for Medicaid, turning Social
Security from the last remaining secure income for the elderly into
savings accounts that will be totally inadequate for the majority of
people, untold destruction of the environment, and further limits on
basic civil liberties. We can't let this happen! We are in a unique
era of history in which the policies of the last 70 years that have
done so much to reduce poverty, to provide for the poor, the elderly,
and the disabled, to protect the air we breathe and the water we
drink from pollution, to ensure fair access for all Americans to
education, employment, and houseing all are under attack from people
whose ONLY concerns are cutting taxes, giving favors to their
corporate friends, and pandering to the fears and prejudices of the
voting public.

We have seen the Bush agenda in reckless tax cuts for the rich, huge
subsidies for favored industries (see the execrable energy bill now
before the Senate) and the Trojan Horse that is the medicare bill - a
cheap, inadequate drug benefit that is merely a distraction intended
to hide the steps toward privatization, the huge subsidies and direct
payoffs to big business, the means-test for the poor and the caps on
spending that lurk inside. Can we really endure 4 more years of
this???

I don't believe we can, and I don't believe that Howard Dean can
prevent it because he simply isn't electable. Wesley Clark not only
can be elected, he DESERVES to be elected! There is so much at stake for all of us!!!

[GOPBasher]

7. Welcome to DU!

Welcome and thanks for the response. :)

[Padraig18]

4. I could support that ticket without reservation.

I would be disappointed if Gov. Dean didn't get the top spot, but I'd survive. I think our party's best hope for '04 rests with Clark/Dean or Dean/Clark. :)

[DinahMoeHum]

12. The Doctor and The General. . . (or vice-versa). . .

Comin' to put America back on track !!

:kick::kick::kick:

[sonias]

5. I like Dean/Clark better

But that said, I will support the Democratic nominee. If that happens to be Clark so be it, but I think the Dean grassroots supporters you mention, are going to give you a run for your money. Believe me I want to win - no matter what. I just don't think Clark is going to win the primaries. That's our process, the candidate that wins the primaries will be our candidate.

I think Dean would be better at the top of the ticket and that Clark can still go after Bush and call chickenhawks on their cowardice as a strong VP candidate. His recent Letterman appearance was brilliant, he even called the Sadam for Osama "the best bait and switch" scheme that any retailer could have performed. And he can say that and be taken seriously because of his four stars.

I think that most people think Cheney runs that country now anyway, so the VP role is nothing to sneer at anymore. Clark in that position would be fabulous, but that's his call to make should he fail to win the nomination. Should Clark win and then I guess Dean would have to decide would he round out the ticket. But I do agree with you that the two men together would be unbeatable.

May the best candidate win and I hope that both of these men continue to help this country get bush out of office.

Sonia

[GOPBasher]

8. You make good points.

Although I lean towards Clark/Dean, Dean/Clark would also be an incredible ticket. Either way, I think we'll win, given a fair election.

[KittyWampus]

17. Absolutely, Dean Supporters Are An Energized Lot!

and Dean's got spunk... no doubt about that.

[paulk]

6. I don't see it

Clark would more than likely pick someone from the Congress; this is what's usually done when a Governor or military person runs.

In the last nine races where a Gov. or someone from the military ran for the presidency, going back to 1944, the V.P. has been someone from Congress, eight times from the Senate, once from the House.

A Governor or General, running as a Washington outsider, usually picks someone from Congress who can help them inside Washington, also they tend to pick someone who can bring them some electoral votes, which Dean, being from Vermont (four votes) can't really do.

[unfrigginreal]

9. Right pair, wrong order

But I'd work hard to support either team.

[dave29]

10. What a terrible dilemma to have

two excellent candidates

what ever will we do

[GOPBasher]

11. lol

good point :)

[Eurobabe]

13. Have a general smackdown

Let the best man win. LOL.

[DrFunkenstein]

14. Dean Would Only Pull Clark Down

There is nothing that Dean adds to Clark's ticket. Civil unions? Tax repeals? A population smaller than several major cities?

Dean has nothing going for him except the anti-war thing, and Clark already has that. Dean would be baggage.

[Padraig18]

15. Aren't you overlooking one teeny, tiny thing or two, Doc?

The half-million-plus grass roots network of supporters he has, not to mention what may be a sizeable campaign war chest? :eyes:

[GOPBasher]

16. I think Dean would add a lot.

Dean would motivate the base and his extremely loyal following would give the ticket lots of money and volunteers. His grassroots support is the amazing thing I've ever seen.