Outsider Finds Friends Inside

By Elaine S. Povich
WASHINGTON BUREAU

October 1, 2003


Washington - Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who comes to the Democratic presidential race as a political outsider, impressed consummate Washington insiders yesterday, but not enough to pick up any new endorsements from uncommitted members of Congress.

Clark spoke and took questions from about 60 Democrats in an hour-long session arranged by Reps. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem), Steve Israel (D-Huntington) and about 10 others who have endorsed him. The meeting appeared to attract many Democrats who are looking for a candidate they think can win next fall, with President George W. Bush suddenly appearing vulnerable in recent polls, and questions about the war in Iraq mounting. Nowhere are those questions more pronounced than in Congress, which is hotly debating Bush's request for $87 billion to continue to fund the Iraq effort.

The session stressed Clark's military credentials: Rangel handed out rectangular political buttons simply sporting four stars, emblematic of Clark's status as a retired four-star Army general. And Rangel greeted Clark at the door of a Capitol Hill townhouse with a crisp salute, reflecting Rangel's Army service in Korea.

Rangel said there were so many questions for the general that "we didn't get to endorsements." But several attendees said they were waiting for their questions to be answered. The session drew Democrats from every region of the country and spanned the political spectrum.

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