Retired general Wesley Clark is expected to announce his bid for President later today.The former NATO commander would become the 10th Democratic candidate. Local supporters say Clark is the party's best hope for toppling President Bush.
Wesley Clark is scheduled to make his candidacy official with a speech outside an Arkansas Boys and Girls Club??Former NH state Democratic Party Chairman George Bruno is among the dozen or so advisors Clark brought to Little Rock to help launch his long rumored campaign. Bruno admits the General, who was at 1 percent in the latest NH poll, has his work cut out for him, ??but says he expects Clark to quickly establish a local beachhead.
"NH is ready for General Clark?..a man of his background his vision his energy and his vision for America."
The activists who gathered at the state draft Wesley Clark headquarters in Dover yesterday??.said news of Clark?s commitment was worth the wait.. Susan Putney has since May spearheaded the local branch of the internet movement to Draft Wesley Clark.
?We?re all thrilled??We have over 30,000 volunteers across the country??and everybody has been pulling hard?..putting in a lot of long hours?..stafffing tables holding signs and this is the culmination of those efforts.?
That those efforts are on behalf of a man who has never held elected office?.and who no detailed platform was of little concern to other Clark partisans?..They say Clark?s reputation as a military leader and national security expert gives him instant credibility.
?Wes has served for 34 years??.?.
Lionel Ingram is a professor of political science at UNH. He?s known Clark since both men were West Point cadets ? where Clark graduated first in his class??Ingram says Clark?s proved superior as both manager and diplomat while leading NATO forces during the 1999 campaign in Kosovo??.But he insists Clark?s best attribute is his quality of character. Ingram says that alone puts him head and shoulders above the Democratic field.
?This is not something to be the culmination of some political idea and dream?..and I don?t think that?s the case for any other candidate??.And I?m not criticizing any of them?..It?s just that there is a difference between a desire to serve and what I believe the other candidates have had as their motivation.?
Local Clark backers tend to stress ?purity of character? when describing the General?s appeal?..?..But there are other reasons??.not the least of which is that unlike several of the democratic frontrunners Clark is from the South?? Former executive councilor Dudley Dudley has worked for candidates in New Hampshire presidential primaries since 1968??not one has ever gone on to claim the oval office??.Dudley says that needs to change???and says given the stakes, all Democrats ought to be pragmatic.
?I don?t think he and I are going to agree on every issue?..And that?s alright this time??because I think he has the qualities to do what I want done?..which is to beat Bush??That?s what?s most important to me.?
A crucial early step is of course building a strong local support base?.To do that?..most observers agree Clark needs to come to New Hampshire early and often. Mike Dennehy was state director of Senator John McCain?s 2000 presidential bid??He says Clark?s credentials and background are a good starting point for an insurgent run at the democratic nomination?But Dennehy says to win his first political campaign General Clark will need to recruit battle tested local activists??
"The question is whether he can build an organization in short order and whether he can get some high powered democrats and even independents??to support his candidacy?.that?s what he has to do right off the bat?.he needs to show some momentum pretty quickly to show he is a credible candidate."
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Wesley Clark is scheduled to announce his candidacy at one o?clock?..
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