Clark out
as I predicted yesterday, Clark has dropped out of the race. My sense is that Clark will probably lie low during teh Wisconsin primary, but if he retains any desire to influence the debate, then he will make his endorsement of another candidate in advance of Super Tuesday in March. The best course of action for him remains being someone's Veep, though of course he likely would be willing to settle for SecDef.
If I were Clark, I'd be looking hard at Dean right now. The test remains how Dean fares in Wisconsin. A solid win, or even a strong second, should be enough to convince Clark of Dean's viability. The race here is to influence the debate, as Clark himself has noted, and that process of debate simply shuts down if the nominee is coronated by the media and the Democratic establishment. What is needed is a choice, that can drive the debate, and thus keep the pressure (and the media coverage) focused on Democratic issues.
Ultimately, having a contested primary means that Bush is left out in the cold, in terms of media share. And the Dems have been effective in using their joint appeaances to bash the disastrous policies of the Administration, bringing them to the attention of the wider audience. There is NO WAY the AWOL story would have gotten any traction if not for the primary, for example. Nor would the Plame Affair have legs, or the GOP theft of Dem computer memos. The Democratic primary is keeping the national debate alive and for this reason alone Dean must continue at all cost to the convention.
If Clark joins him, then we have a good shot at winning. But Dean has to continue regardless. Anything less means that ChangeForAmerica will be long in coming, indeed.
If I were Clark, I'd be looking hard at Dean right now. The test remains how Dean fares in Wisconsin. A solid win, or even a strong second, should be enough to convince Clark of Dean's viability. The race here is to influence the debate, as Clark himself has noted, and that process of debate simply shuts down if the nominee is coronated by the media and the Democratic establishment. What is needed is a choice, that can drive the debate, and thus keep the pressure (and the media coverage) focused on Democratic issues.
Ultimately, having a contested primary means that Bush is left out in the cold, in terms of media share. And the Dems have been effective in using their joint appeaances to bash the disastrous policies of the Administration, bringing them to the attention of the wider audience. There is NO WAY the AWOL story would have gotten any traction if not for the primary, for example. Nor would the Plame Affair have legs, or the GOP theft of Dem computer memos. The Democratic primary is keeping the national debate alive and for this reason alone Dean must continue at all cost to the convention.
If Clark joins him, then we have a good shot at winning. But Dean has to continue regardless. Anything less means that ChangeForAmerica will be long in coming, indeed.
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