With Gore’s Endorsement of Dean, How Long Before Clinton Endorses Clark?

[David Zephyr]

I hope that my intuitions are wrong, but I truly doubt that Former President Bill Clinton can just sit by on the sidelines and be upstaged by Al Gore's coming endorsement of Howard Dean. This bold and timely move by Gore just before the holidays is bound to upset the "establishment" within the Democratic Party who will in turn exercise pressure on Clinton to speak out.

While I have long posted here that the 2004 ticket would inevitably have Dean and Clark as the standard bearers, I have never been certain as to what the hierarchy of that ticket would be. I am a Dean supporter, but would accept Clark at the top of the ticket should it turn out to be results of the Convention in Boston next year. Gore’s endorsement of Dean now dramatically reshapes the contest between these two candidates, doesn’t it? There’s really only one person now that could equally reshuffle the deck once more---Bill Clinton.

And so, I am expecting an endorsement of Wesley Clark by Bill Clinton before the Iowa Caucus in January. The only question I have is: How long will Clinton be able to refrain from injecting himself into the Primary race with an endorsement of General Clark?

[wndycty]

1. WHy must you slam Clinton. . .

. . .what will you do if he endorses Dean? Will your opinion of him change?

[David Zephyr]

2. No Slam.

I am simply stating what I expect to happen. Clinton will endorse Clark turning the race into a two-man horserace.

My thread asks how long you think before the endorsement of Clark comes?

[eileen_d]

6. Do you want that in days, hours, or minutes?

Seriously... isn't that a rhetorical question?

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

13. Not gonna happen

Clark is not improving as a candidate and will likely end up a liability for anyone's political capital.

Dean is getting a lot of organized labor support which should play well in the battle ground states of the rust belt. The key states in play are the same states as 2000. We NEED at least a few southern states and so the question is who can help deliver on the bottom of the ticket. Looking like Dean-Edwards to me.

[mikehiggins]

31. Interesting analysis

We can revisit it after NH and SC.

I'll appreciate your insight then.

[wndycty]

17. Why would you assume Clinton is going to support Clark. . .

. . .is there anything wrong with Clinton endorsing Clark, would you accept him if he endorsed Dean. You said Clinton would "interject" himself in this campaign, will be "interjection" if he supported Dean.

[polpilot]

35. The Clinton ? is ALWAYS: What do I get????

I can't answer this question.

Dean '04...

[polpilot]

34. Good post. Good question.

Dean '04...

[ibegurpard]

4. why did you perceive that as a slam on Clinton?

:shrug:

[wndycty]

12. Maybe I am over reacting. . .

. . .and I cannot speak on the posters in this thread. But I am sick and tired of people who change opinions of Gore, Clinton, Bartcop, Mediawhores, Jackson Jr. and Jackson Sr. whenever they endorse once candidate over the other. I remember some of the people who are praising this endorsement criticized Clark for hiring Gore people. I have seen Clark supporters who loved Gore turn on him because of this. I have seen Bartcoppers ditch him because of his support of Dean. The Gore endorsement of Dean hurt, but I still support him. I am sorry if I was projecting.

[goobergunch]

18. Gore endorsed Dean, not Clark (n/t)

[wndycty]

21. ooops n/t

[roguevalley]

26. I don't think he was slamming Clinton. I didn't read it that way. I saw a

simple question: would Clinton endorse Clark? I suppose
he would after a few primaries. He's rather Clinton's
friend and sort of protege. I think it would reshuffle
the deck too.

I see this as unfortunate, Gore wise because there have
been no actual primaries yet and he, IMHO, should have
held off until after the caucuses and first primaries.
It rather shafts the other eight candidates. But he can
endorse and did. Done deal.

I think Clinton will wait until the convention or maybe
just before. What do you think?

[NashVegas]

3. That's a Pretty Interesting Thought

Makes me wonder ...

[PurityOfEssence]

5. Well, idiocy's in the wind, so it only seems natural.

I suppose the other master of folly's being prompted to it, but something tells me he's a better politician than that.

[David Zephyr]

22. I'd Hope So, Too.

It will only be a Bill Clinton endorsement. Hillary will not join in.

[KoKo]

7. I don't know, really. Much DU speculation that Clinton is DLC, but guess

we will have to wait and see. Who's "flushed out" of the "Duck Blind" here.

I'm glad that Gore endorsed Dean, however. It gives one more "piece of the puzzle to some of us DU'ers" who weren't sure "which end was up."

[jumptheshadow]

11. And Gore isn't DLC?

Sure he isn't.

[David Zephyr]

25. Gore Is DLC

But Al Gore's public positions throughout 2003 on Iraq, the Patriot Act and going after the corporations has been counter to the DLC's mantra.

[Cheswick2.0]

42. Gore is not DLC

he used to be and the DLC was different then. Gore rejected the DLC last year and they in turn pushed him out of the race. Gore wasn't even DLC in 2000 when they were clearly disturbed at his populist message.

[Myra]

53. Gore's evolved. He's a changed man, understandably.

He's getting better and better.

[KoKo]

48. Gore sees that DLC was great "in it's time" but now needs "refreshing."

Going to the Center (which Dems needed to do to defeat Bush I) is not what we need in 2004. Much has gone over the dam since then. And, bad compromises were made by Clinton which have come home to roost on our heads.

Clinton and Gore, I think see that. But how much of a divide there is on DLC policies is probably unknown.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. With Gore's endorsement, Dean can't be ignored by Big Dog...

...or anyone in the Democratic establishment. If Gore does endorse Dean, and Dean sweeps Iowa and NH, then you'll see the establishment fall in behind Dean.

[newsguyatl]

9. i wonder about this too

b/c i firmly believe clinton is pro-clark... however, i have a gut feeling that clinton, as a former president (and veritable leader of the Party) won't endorse anyone...

i think it'd be unwise of him to do so...

[DrFunkenstein]

10. Would Clinton Back A Horse Before He Knows It Will Show?

And would a connection to Clinton be a plus or negative for Clark? Unfair or not, Clark is seen as the Clinton place holder. An endorsement would only further that perception. Especially since Hillary subtly refused to rule out a late showing on Sunday.

[Padraig18]

14. LONG odds that he will endorse Clark.

I'd put them at 10:1.

[SheilaT]

15. Why do you assume Clinton

will endorse anyone? And why would that anyone be Clark, rather than Kerry, Kucinich, or Gephardt?

The underlying assumption in your post is that Clinton cannot bear to be upstaged by Gore, that Gore's endorsing of Dean is somehow upstaging Clinton. That Clinton will "get back" by endorsing another candidate, and that candidate will be, in your opinion, Clark.

Gore endorsing Dean is hardly something that will dramatically reshape the contest for the nomination. It's just one more step along the path to the convention.

[drfemoe]

27. another media spin bath

msnbc is already spinning it that way. They love to spill blood.

"Gore’s endorsement was first reported by The Associated Press, which quoted a Democratic source close to the former vice president, and confirmed independently by NBC News."
..snip..
"The sources described the endorsement as a way for Gore to maneuver himself to challenge former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, for supremacy within the Democratic Party. Sources close to the Clintons said Monday that they would not make endorsements in the primary race."

http://www.msnbc.com/news/1002878.asp?0cv=CA01

... there's more ...

[Phelan]

49. Clinton is a main reason that Clark is running

[tsipple]

16. Associated Press Reports...

...That their reporter contacted both Hillary Clinton's and Bill Clinton's offices for comments. Both reiterated that they would make no endorsements until the nominee is decided.

It's right in the AP story.

[Cleita]

19. I was wondering about Clinton too.

Being that he and Clark are both Arkansas fellows, it would seem like a natural. I am sort of hoping he holds off endorsing anyone until after the primaries. Then it would be good for him to throw his support behind the chosen Democratic candidate. If he endorses Clark and Dean wins, then it makes it a little awkward to do so.

[Terwilliger]

20. Excellent question...this is a wonderful political lesson for me

I'm kinda new to electoral politics, but I'm seeing ALLLLL the angles here at DU.

Enlightening.

I agree...Clinton could decide to endorse Clark and I think it would be sooner rather than later. I must say I doubt Hillary will endorse anyone formally until after the party really decides who it's going to be.

Could be that he endorses Dean...which would be the end ofany dissension. You'd have a largely unified party starting with 2004. Not bad.

[David Zephyr]

39. You're Right.

Hillary wouldn't endorse Clark, but Bill can.

If Bill endorses Clark, it would be more subtle than a joint appearance and more along the lines of his "there are only two stars within the Democratic Party, Hillary and Wesley Clark" statement which was just on the eve of Clark's entering the race.

Clinton is behind Clark.

How Clinton deals with Dean's snowballing lead and Gore's endorsement will be interesting to watch.

[Woodstock]

51. Please provide evidence that makes you think "Clinton is behind Clark"

Clark served under him. Some of his staffers are on Clark's team. He's said some nice things about Clark, but he's also said nice things about Dean & other candidates. Anything more than this to go on?

My bet is Clinton will stay impartial.

[pscot]

23. Why would Clinton endorse a long shot

when Dean is looking like he has a lock on the nomination? If he pisses Dean off he may forfeit his guest pass to the Lincoln bedroom.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Clark will win

that's why. JMCPO. It's very early. Don't count those chickens before they're hatched.

[liberalnurse]

36. Sorry, but it's a done deal now.....

Dean is the next President of the United States. That is if all the democrats pull together....Clarkies, Kerry's and Kucinich folks.

The other option is another 4 years of Bush and Company.....

[kiahzero]

41. Baaah! Baaah!

Listen. I know you Deaniacs have this impression of supporters of other candidates as Sheeple.

We aren't.

We like our candidates. We will probably support our candidates to the bitter end - either they win the nomination, or they drop out of the race.

Just because one man has cast his vote in the media rather than in a primary doesn't mean that the rest of us should follow like good little sheep and do his bidding. The primaries haven't even started yet - it's not even 2004.

[L.A.dweller]

52. Uh yeah, what day and month is it again??

It's December 2003 not November 2004

[mikehiggins]

33. I know! I know!

Dean's followers beleive he represents a break with the old way of doing things in the Democratic Party.

Clinton recognises that the reality is somewhat different. Even if he signs on with Dean he will still be last year's news, and Terry M will still get bounced out of the DNC job.

If he supports his old friend Wes, and they pull off a victory, Wes can run the country and Bill will just settle for being boss of the party.

Dean. Gore. Bill. Hillary. Terry.

The only "innocent" in all this is Clark, who simply wants to get the US out of the mess BushCo got it into.

[Democrats unite]

24. Lets see...

Clinton is a winner, Gore is a...I know Who I would want my endorsement to be from.

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Nevermind

I guess an endorsement at this point in the campaign is not good? So, nevermind what I said. I do love Clinton though. :)

[mikehiggins]

30. If Clark does well in NH

I wouldn't be surprised if Clinton endorses him before SC.

I hope he asks Clark first, though. I don't know whether it would be in Wes' best interest to get caught so openly in a battle for control of the party.

He signed on to run for the White House, not DNC Chairman.

[Donna Zen]

45. I don't think Clinton will endorse anyone

For one of the party leaders to endorse anyone interfers with the process. Clinton remembers that at this point in the primaries, he was at 3%. Repect for the primary process, the rights of the voters, and the candidates who have put themselves forward, is no small matter.

Gore who failed to stop the theft of his own election and stand up for the people who voted for him, has now shown what he is made of.

[CMT]

32. I doubt very much Clinton will endorse anybody

I think he will stay publically neutral during the primary season. Furthermore, I don't believe Clinton has been in any way anti-Dean--on the contrary he has come to Dean's defense on several occassions.

[arewethereyet]

37. he already did endorse him

surely you recall the footsy going on between those two while Clark was busy not deciding if he was running or not.

Thats about as blatant a pre-primary endorsement as you can expect from an ex-prez.

[Catherine Vincent]

38. I don't think Clinton will endorse Clark because if you look

in Clark's eyes, you will see that he is crazy....at least that is what some C-Span caller said about Clark.

LMAO!

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. From what I understand

Clark is a GOP plant...he's a member of the BFEE. He's EVIL! Yup! It's true. Someone on DU said so. SO, it must be true. :evilfrown:

UTTERLY ridiculous.

[MoonRiver]

43. He needs to do it SOON.

:kick:

[SeveneightyWhoa]

44. Yup!

The sooner the better.
Although I don't know if a Clinton endorsement will help Clark in the long run.

[KoKo]

46. My Bet is that Clinton will wait, to see how Dean does for awhile. He

is smart like a fox. He will wait to see who the frontrunner is. Same with Hillary. She pretty much said ABBB on Russert this Sunday.

I might eat my words...but I think they have the "best hopes" for the Party at heart. I've never viewed them as cynically as some here do, thinking they are running for Pres all the time, though.

[mmonk]

47. I don't think Clinton is going to endorse anyone

that way he can be called on to help any and all he wishes. But maybe I'm wrong?

[Red State Rebel]

50. You read my mind...

I read somewhere today that Dean is having a campaign video made by Bloodworth/Thomason, the same ones that did Clinton's "A Man From Hope". I really think he is being nurtured along by the Clintons and now that Al has backed Dean, it's going to be interesting.

I was leaning toward Kerry, but I've been put off by some of his actions lately so my choice will be between Dean and Clark.