Clark Running for Governor?

[erpowers]

It seems as if their is a large amount of support for a Clark Presidential run. Has Clark considered running for the governor of any state? If he did run to be the governor of a state how would the DUer who support him running for president feel? Would you help out in his campaign? It seems like running for governor would be a good thing for Clark in that people would be able to get a good look at him leading a state. This would allow people to evaluate him as an executive of a state. It seems that being the governor of a state could add to his resume and make him an even better candidate then he was in the primaries. It seems that the only problem with Clark running for governor is that he may not be able to run for president in 2008 in that his term would not be up.

[Paradise]

1. With the General in whatever he pursues! n/t

[AmerDem]

2. I think Clark would be much more interested in

being part of someones cabinet rather than running for Gov. or president. His run for president last year took a major toll on his family and I'm not sure he would put them through that again.

[Julien Sorel]

3. There is some low-level buzz that he's looking at

running for Arkansas governor against Mike Huckabee in 2006, but it's just buzz at this point.

[janx]

5. If he did decide to run for governor, it would lend a hand to

this effort:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1404584

[democratreformed]

10. Erroneous information - just to let you know.

He can't possible run against Mike Huckabee - since Huckabee cannot run again (term limits). The likely Repub candidate will be Rockefeller - the current Lt. Governor. Two strong possibilities being actively discussed from the Democratic side are Attorney General Mike Beebe and someone else that I can't ever seem to remember (a state Senator???).

[Julien Sorel]

16. Thanks for the info.

[Sputnik]

17. Mike Ross, 4th district Congressman

has been mentioned as a possible Democratic contender. I'm not a big fan of Ross, but I'd hate to risk losing that congressional seat to a Republican.

[ArkDem]

14. Huckabee will be term limited out in 2006. He can't run again.

He would be running against Democrat Mike Beebe (who is now Atty. General) and he would get waxed!

[Unstuck In Time]

4. It's an interesting idea. He's definitely one of our "bright lights"

Anything that keeps him going strong in a position of leadership is fine by this Deaniac. :)

[AntiCoup2K4]

6. It's probably one of the best moves the General could make.

His biggest weakness as a candidate is the total lack of political experience. If he could win the governor's mansion in Arkansas (his home state) it would automatically make him a stronger Presidential candidate.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I would just like to point out that

the last time we had the situation we will have in '08 - no incumbent and no veep in the running from either party - was 1952. In that election, Eisenhower, who had no political experience apart from his hugely political role as Supreme Allied Commander, won the presidency.

Any parallels?

I also think it would be less than desirable, if Clark continues to hold any presidential aspirations (and he has NOT declared he does), to run for Arkansas governor. He would just be getting started at the time he would need to gear up for a presidential run. Were I an Arkansan, I would be mightily pissed at that.

There is another interesting buzz around this, however ....... that the General is actually working to **support** the Arkansas Dem candidate for governor. In this way, if that person wins, the General would be seen as one of the forces behind the effort in taking another state house for the party. This could up his personal stock nearly as much as if he himself ran.

.... just a thought ......

I also think that a governorship would be a step down for Clark, given his background and where his strengths lie. I think having him worry about some road widening project is a little bit of a waste of the talent shown over a 34 year career of service. Right now, as a person who continues to support Clark, I want him to just come out and start now to run for '08, but no one listens to me, so who cares?

:)

[noonwitch]

9. He should run for congress in 2006

A two year term, he could still run for Pres in 08. It would keep him visible, and he still has his military record to qualm the "inexperienced" fears.

I like Clark, I voted for him in the caucus. He's smart, he's liberal enough, and I thought he was the only candidate who could have beat Bush, especially if Dean had been his running mate.

[Sparkly]

12. Same problems with that

I don't think it's a good plan to get through one door and immediately start campaigning for the next one.

I also think it's a step *down* for someone who's had head-of-state status and a distinguished career as he has. It'd easily bring charges of "he's only got X number of days' experience in Congress," putting the focus on that and diminishing his real experience.

I hope he'll just go for it, straight to the top.

[Sputnik]

18. No, because

Clark would either have to move to another district in Arkansas or run against the very popular Vic Snyder.

Oh, he'd beat Snyder, but I can't see Clark doing that since Vic was a big supporter of the General during the Democratic primary. I suppose Vic Snyder could run for Gov and Clark could run for Snyder's congressional seat.

Or, if Congressman Ross wants to run for Gov and Clark moves into my district and runs for Ross' seat, I could certainly deal with that. Clark's mother and stepfather lived in Hot Springs for years, so Clark is familiar with the town.

Whatever, if Clark runs for anything other than president, it would have to be in Arkansas. I'll add though that I agree with Sparkly and Husband both that I'd rather him concentrate on running for president. Governor would be preferable to Congressman since it's an executive position (though he's certainly already plenty experienced in that area) but running for Governor in 2006 and being sworn in 2007 if he wins would be horrible timing if he then decides to run for president.

[democratreformed]

8. I would fully support Clark in anything he chooses to do.

With that being said, I hope he doesn't choose to do that. There are already two prominent Democrats who will likely run for governor in 2006. And, I feel it would be a real waste of his talents.

[Cuban_Liberal]

11. He should do it.

Huckabee's a slug, and Clark would be a FAR superior choice.

:)

[janx]

15. Not only that, but it would add to Clark's resume.

Or he could run for Congress. It would be great if he ran for something and won and did that for a couple of years.

But then if Clark were the governor of Arkansas, he could boost the current reorganization that the Dem governors are planning.

[IronLionZion]

13. Arkansas?

It would be pointless to run in any other state. I'd support it.

Or he could run for Senate/Congress/whatever. I would love to see him in a Democratic administration in 2008.