Wesley Clark

This article is about the general. For the computer scientist, please see Wesley A. Clark.

Presidential candidacy

After retiring from the army, Clark worked as a military and international affairs analyst, including a stint as a commentator for CNN. He began preparations for a Democratic 2004 presidential candidacy in 2002, including visits to the all-important first primary state of New Hampshire.

Related Topics:
CNN - Democratic - 2004 presidential candidacy - 2002 - New Hampshire

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By August 2003, several organized groups began a nationwide campaign to "draft Clark" for the Democratic Party's nomination for the 2004 presidential election. CNN on 13 August showed a commercial by one of these groups, and interviewed Clark. He disavowed any connection with the "draft Clark" groups, but said he had been considering his position and that within a few weeks he would likely make public his decision on whether or not to run. He also fueled speculation with a television interview in which he first declared himself a Democrat.

Related Topics:
2003 - Nationwide - Draft - 13 August - Commercial

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On September 17, 2003 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Clark announced his intention to run in the presidential primary election for the Democratic Party nomination, becoming the tenth and last Democrat to do so (coming many months after the others): "My name is Wes Clark. I am from Little Rock, Arkansas, and I am here to announce that I intend to seek the presidency of the United States of America." He said, "We're going to run a campaign that will move this country forward, not back."

Related Topics:
September 17 - Presidential primary election

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His campaign focused on themes of leadership and patriotism; early campaign ads relied heavily on biography. His late start left him with relatively few detailed policy proposals. This weakness was apparent in his first few debates, although he soon presented a range of position papers, including a major tax-relief plan. Many Democrats flocked to his campaign. They were drawn by his impressive military background, and saw such foreign policy credentials as a valuable asset in challenging George W. Bush post-11 September. Advisors and supporters portrayed him as more electable than Howard Dean, who was the frontrunner for the party's nomination up until the Iowa caucus.

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - 11 September - Howard Dean - Iowa caucus

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Criticism of Clark began almost the moment he entered the race. Originally heralded as an anti-war general, he stumbled in the first few days of his candidacy. He was perceived as changing his answer on how he would have voted on the Iraq war resolution. His supporters argued that his perceived indecision was due to lack of experience with the media and their insistence on short "sound bite" answers.

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A relatively recent convert to the Democratic Party, Clark stated that he voted for Republican candidates in the past, including Presidents Nixon and Reagan. He previously made positive comments about the Bush administration and its foreign policy team, including one at a GOP fundraiser in 2001. Questions were also raised about his involvement in lobbying the Pentagon.

Related Topics:
Nixon - Reagan - Lobbying - Pentagon

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In answer, Clark supporters emphasized the progressive character of his policy positions. A frequent refrain, echoed in the campaign's official "Talking Points for Supporters," is that he is "pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, pro-environment, pro-health care, and pro-labor."

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Clark was supported by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, as well as pop singer Madonna, who held a fundraiser for his campaign at her Los Angeles home.

Related Topics:
Michael Moore - Pop - Madonna - Los Angeles

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In a thirty-second campaign commercial aimed at young people released October 30, 2003, his presidential campaign made reference to the hip hop duo OutKast. In the ad, Clark is sitting in a coffee shop with a dozen middle-class young adults of various American ethnicities. The young adults do not speak, but sit and listen as Clark appears to be answering their questions. "Well, to answer your questions, no, I would not have voted for the Iraq war...I am pro-choice and I am a strong believer in Affirmative Action...And I don't care what the other candidates say, I don't think OutKast is really breaking up. Andre 3000 and Big Boi just cut solo records, that's all." The last comment prompts a blond-bearded young man to say approvingly "all right" and to tap fists with Clark.

Related Topics:
October 30 - Hip hop - OutKast

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Clark's campaign also made an aggressive effort to develop a strong base of Meetup users, starting in November, 2003, and "Clark in 2004" was soon the second most popular Meetup topic, immediately following "Dean in 2004".

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His campaign developed a very strong Internet following which was brought together with an ambitious Web initiative: the Clark Community Network, an integrated system of blogs and Web tools. Its E-Blocks, and campaign train allowed Clark to raise more money during January 2004 than any other candidate. This innovative technology was cutting edge, but largely overlooked by media excitement over the Dean Internet strategy.

Related Topics:
Internet - Blog - E-Blocks - Campaign train

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In January of 2004, he decided to bypass campaigning in the Iowa caucus, instead focusing his campaign to win or place second in New Hampshire, and announced a plan that would raise taxes on upper-income individuals in order to cut income taxes for "all families of four earning below $50,000". His son later mused that the former was a fatal mistake. Clark focused on winning New Hampshire, or placing second to Dean, to position himself to defeat presumed frontrunner Dean, but when John Kerry and John Edwards each placed ahead of Dean in the Iowa caucuses, they drew the media focus in the days immediately before the New Hampshire primary. Clark took third place in New Hampshire, behind New Englanders Kerry and Dean. The younger Clark suggested that had Clark remained a candidate in Iowa he, instead of Kerry and Edwards, might have benefited from Dean's drop in support.

Related Topics:
Iowa caucus - $ - His son - John Kerry - John Edwards

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Despite this setback, Clark decided to remain in the race, at least until February 3, when 8 primaries — many in the South, Clark's regional base — would be held. He won only the Oklahoma primary. Following 3 February, he moved on to campaign in Tennessee and Virginia, states he hoped would provide him the necessary momentum to remain in the race. After placing third in the primaries in both Tennessee and Virginia, he withdrew from the race on February 11, 2004. A day after his withdrawal, Clark announced he would endorse John Kerry, at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin.

Related Topics:
February 3 - South - Oklahoma - 3 February - Tennessee - Virginia - February 11 - 2004 - John Kerry - Madison, Wisconsin

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