With two weeks until the primary, interest in retired General Wesley Clark is growing.
The crowds at his events are larger.
His poll numbers are going up.
And rival campaigns have begun to attack.
New Hampshire Public Radio?s Dan Gorenstein has this look at Clark?s new found attention.
Our report begins at a hair salon in Nashua.
7:02 if you have ever spoken to, or been close to Wesley Clark, he?s a guy that looks you straight in the eye and wants to know what is in your mind....it?s really hard not to like the man.
2:33 When he was on with Aaron Brown of CNN, I would stay up late at night just to watch Wesley Clark. He had intelligence, he spoke very clearly. He is just a nice man. And it doesn?t hurt that he?s good looking either.
That?s Joan Vino and Alla Vetlaro.
Whether it?s at Vetlaro?s hair salon, the cigar store on Main St., or the chamber of commerce, people in Nashua are talking about retired General Wesley Clark.
Chris Hodgeson is the Chamber of Commerce President.
Track 16
1:47 NH voters have always liked a compelling story. And they like a story of the personal acheivment, you look at the McCain story...and Wesley Clark has that. He is unique in the race...that may have a lot to do with it.
On the stump, Clark makes the most out of that story.
Track 4
1:43 I grew up going to Little Rock public schools, I went to Pulaski Heights elementary and middle school, and that?s how I learned my values...(fade down)...
Clark often peppers his stump speeches with anecdotes from his past that highlight specific qualities that he believes makes him electable.
Southerner. Military man. Brainy. Political greenhorn.
Clark presents himself as a person whom voters could trust the way they would a next door neighbor.
Track 8
18:01 ... I have never run for elective office before. So I don?t owe anybody any special interests. Nobody is going to come to me and say remember, you cut this deal with me. Blah, blah, blah. You asked me to go along, none of that. I spent 34 years fighting for America?s national interest. That?s what I will do as President of the United States.
Clark develops this theme of national service by putting himself above party politics.
When asked if he?s a Democrat, Clark replies emphatically, NO, he, is an American.
But Clark isn?t the only one who wants to be seen as an outsider to politics as usual.
Howard Dean has made that an important part of his message too.
It?s a quality Bill Carbeneau of Deerfield, liked in both men.
But ultimately, Carbeneau chose Clark.
Track 16
:00 Howard Dean, I thought long about him, even after I went to a few of Clark?s things. And I think he is a bit of a loose cannon. I looked at him, and the image he projects in speeches, I felt was not the image of someone who would be President of the United States of America. On the other hand, Wesley Clark dressed casually, spoke honestly, answered the questions, nothing prepared, and he was a man I could look to and say yeah, that?s the President fo the United States, the world?s most difficult job.
The recent large crowds and buzz around Clark shouldn?t be mistaken for some kind of Clark fever.
At this point, the attention represents interest more than commitment.
But some, like Concord resident Chris Butterworth, still aren?t sold.
Track 18
1:45 ...I?ve heard promises in the past. That again, is telling me what I want to hear. I am just very wary. Wary that there is a lot of talk and little substance. Again, I am disappointed, b/c this is Wesley Clark. Probably the most intelligent individual running. I would expect more.
As Clark rises in the polls, his rivals have taken aim at the core of Clark?s campaign: the story he tells about himself.
Dean supporters distributed a flier accusing Clark of supporting the war with Iraq early on.
The Kerry campaign assembled some of its most prominent New Hampshire backers to hammer the retired General.
Joe Keefe said Clark?s life in retirement is the clearest guide to where his true values lie.
Track 5
:28 ... What did Wesley Clark choose to do with the connections he made and influence while in the Army? Clark did not use that influence or contacts to increase veterans benefits, he did not use influence or contacts to try to change don?t ask, don?t tell policy. ... No, the tradition of Republicans like Dick CHenney is the model Clark used. ... hawking Axiom Corporation?s technology to his former colleagues at the Pentagon.
Until recently, Clark?s low standing in the polls protected him from the political barbs.
It?s not clear what affect the increasing criticism will have.
Nashua resident Hillary Keating, who right now is leaning towards Clark, says it doesn?t matter to her.
4:47 if anything, I get a little bit more nervous when people start attacking people. I get more suspicious. I am more suspicious about other candidates...it wouldn?t be enough to turn me away from him.
Wesley Clark continues to campaign across the state, committed to getting his story out.
But if other candidates have their way, the story voters hear won?t just be the one Clark wants to tell.
For NHPR News, I?m DG.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo