Boston Globe: Clark on rise in NH

Clark on rise in New Hampshire
More see him as best bet to rival Dean
By Joanna Weiss, Globe Staff, 12/6/2003

NASHUA -- Bob Bettilyon sat in the front row of a crowded college meeting room, waiting to hear retired Army general Wesley K. Clark, and looking for a sign, a buzz, a spark.

Bettilyon, 54, has one goal for this primary season: find someone who can beat President Bush in 2004. Most Democrats, he figures, have similar policy views. But compared with former Vermont governor Howard Dean, he said, Clark seemed to be missing something. "He just hasn't come on as strong as I would like to see," he said. But an hour and a half later -- after Clark had mocked Bush, hugged the American flag, and delivered a feverish rant against the military-industrial complex -- Bettilyon, a financial controller from Nashua, was closer to being convinced. "Very impressive," he said. "I may vote for him in the primary."

If Clark ends up going to the White House, these past two weeks might mark the start of the turnaround. His response to the Republican Party's latest ads -- "I'm not attacking the president because he's attacking terrorists; I'm attacking him because he isn't attacking terrorists" -- popped up on television screens throughout the country. His latest stump speeches have drawn a positive response from crowds. And polls in New Hampshire this week registered a small but definite uptick.

"Someone's going to end up being the opposition to Dean," said pollster Dick Bennett, president of the Manchester-based American Research Group. "I'm tending to think that it may be Clark."

More

edit: defective link

Don't forget where other candidates for the nomination stood at this point before the NH primary. I clearly remember Mondale in 1984 leading the pack by a HUGE margin (nearly 40 points) just two WEEKS before NH. Gary Hart won the primary by ten percentage points. The polls now mean very Little if we look to history. I am still, frankly, waiting for the Dean fizzle. I think Clark has the better chance in the general election and will come from behind to beat Dean. Maybe not in New Hampshire (though it will be close) but I honestly believe that February 3rd will be breakout day for Clark and the beginning of a long fall for Howard Dean.

I think it should be mentioned that the Bush League is the enemy, not another Democrat.

Dean should not be vilified because he runs a smart, forward looking campaign. He hasn't cheated by playing the game better than the other guys; he saw his shot and he took it.

I'm overjoyed to see Clark moving up in the polling but I think it premature and unwise to get on a whole "anti-Dean" mindset. I am pro-Clark because I think he will be a better candidate in the general election but I could support Dean happily if he manages to win the nomination. I do think the election effort will be harder with Dean but don't delude yourself into thinking it'll be easy with Clark.

Beating an incumbent president, even a bozo like this one, is never an easy task. If we are committed to Clark, it has to be because he is our best shot, not our only one.

I don't think we have much of a shot with Howard Dean. Now is the time to speak up.

I agree with you that Dean will not win against bush in 04 and that we must have Clark for a win in 04 ! I was deeply discouraged when Al Gore annouced he was not running in 04. I felt he was by far the most qualified and also would unite Dems like they never have been B/4 ! There is apprently nothing that can change the fact that our true President in exile, is not running for re-election .Untill Clark entered the race ,I felt none of the others Dems running would win against bush in 04. I believe the more exposure that Clark gets ,the higher his #'s will go up . The more I get to know Clark the more I like him ,and I believe others will feel the same ! Just my opinion , thanks.
NicRic

Dean's strategy has been brilliant and it looks good for him. But I've been doing petition work with Democratic acquaintances at work this week and most people had not made up their minds yet.

I'll be on board for the Democratic candidate, despite the snideness and gloating of some of the Dean supporters around here. But to those of us who believe we are supporting the best man for the job: Hang in there. Work hard. Talk to everybody you know. We all know that the media coverage has been nutrition poor. Anything can still happen in this race.

and, uh, please limit your Dean-sniping to threads initiated by Dean supporters

Thanks:kick: