Clark needs to change strategy

[Toronto Ron]

His ads now need to focus more on issues rather than biography. Several pundits have brought this up, but I think it's true despite that.

[Toucano]

1. Maybe since Kerry's doing so much better without

Lehane, Clark should dump him too! LOL!

I think Wes may need to take the gloves off.

Bio ads could change to tax adds.

Do you think there'll ever be an attack ad?

[arewethereyet]

he's attacking Bush here in VA and talkin taxes

not very impressive commercials, no sense of conviction. apparantly he comes across better live.

[Justice]

28. Thanks For that Unbiased View

[Bolo Boffin]

2. We've had an attack ad of sorts here in Tennessee.

It's Clark speaking. It's about Iraq, and Clark's message is, "I'll get out out of that mess, and I won't get us into another one."

[mmonk]

3. The strategy should be

#1 Get his voice back.
#2 Grant local interviews in the upcoming states
#3 Issue press releases
#4 Decline national interviews for awhile
#5 Do not participate in the next debate, but wait until the one after
#6 Saturate the air waves in the next states with hard hitting issue messages.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

4. can't skip the debate - it will make him look wimpy. Agree w/the rest.

n/t

[tishaLA]

7. Gotta disagree a bit

I thin he has to do the debates, but he needs to be prepped better than he has been. He needs to reframe the question into something he likes better so he can convey his message. For example, he could have used the Moore thing to discuss freedom of speech and the loss of liberties we have experienced since chimpy took office.

I also think he needs to do national interviews. Bu the has to be more aggressive. He is playing the nice guy too much and he needs to tell off the press when necessary--in his nice way, of course. I'd suggest he NOT rely upon his humor, which seemingly does not play well. It's a little too dry for some people, apparently.

[Myra]

9. Reframe the question, exactly. If we/he accpept the orwellian terminology

that the neocons have developed (tax "relief," "clear skys initiative," etc) then we can't win.

Don't accept their terms or terminology.

[mmonk]

11. If they want to keep making him the issue

instead of his positions on the issues, what good comes from that? At least in skipping the next one, he can focus on getting his message out. By then, the media may be out for someone else. If not, his message may spread enough in the states he's running in it won't matter in the following debate.

[Toucano]

12. That's good, but

I also think he needs to pay less attention to the clock during the debates. He always wraps up within 2 seconds of the ding, if not before while others go on and on and on.

He should take a page from the book of Sharpton too. Sharpton always begins by answering the meaty question they gave another candidate for 5-10 seconds which lets him be heard on the issue. Then he answers the "throw away" question they actually gave him. (this works exception would be the Federal Reserve question that Al wasn't prepared for).

I would have loved, for example, to hear Clark answer Edwards' questions about Islam and gun safety. But nooo! We get to hear him defending being a Democrat, as if someone issues certificates for it.

[tishaLA]

15. Yeah, you're absolutely right

On the one hand, I think it's good when he provides short answers, but a longer answer allows him to lay out his vision better, and I think his vision really differentiates him from the others.

I'd also like to haer him get real questions about Islam and it'd be a good way to punk some of the candidates who are just talking our of their asses about issue (i.e., Islam). It would show him as a well-rounded candidate and give him a way to work his way into the question he wants to asnwer.

I also remember what Clinton did so well: he used to pause a couple seconds which made him seem thoughtful and reasoned, but it also gave him time to adjust to the question. Clark might be smart to do that, too.

[DIBL]

24. I was thinking alonf the same lines

He could have reframed the Michael Moore question to talk about his stance on freedom of speech, civil liberties, open government and holding the President accountable. Instead he chose to go on the defensive and addressed the question literally. I hope someone in the Clark campaign is making him aware of this so that he's better prepared for the next debate.

[bushwakker]

5. I wish he had stuck to his guns

on the Moore/deserter thing. If he had just forcefully said that Bush was not a deserted but AWOL the media would have been forced to look more closely at the veracity of the claim.

[Toucano]

8. That issue is dead.

It no longer matters because as commander and chief, Shrub has his military credentials. He didn't earn them, but he has them.

[bushwakker]

16. He looked like he was backtracking

when he could have used it to his (and the Dems in general) advantage. I'm not so sure it's a dead issue. If Kerry or Clark were to get the nomination I think the issue lives.

[cally]

6. He needs to focus on the economy

and domestic issues. The exit polls are showing that the voters have not focused on the Iraq war as a reason to vote for a candidate. I think voters assume that any of the Dems would not have taken us into that war and will find a way out. I also thinks he needs to bring up electability.

[Toronto Ron]

10. Electability and tax plan

I think those are perhaps the two strengths he should ride. Iraq not a huge issue, and slogans like "New American Patriotism" and "New Standard of Leadership" will only go so far.

[mmonk]

13. True

but in debates, how do you make them ask you questions on those positions?

[Toronto Ron]

14. No more faux debates!

The candidates should make an agreement to do no more debates sponsored by faux "news".

[bushwakker]

17. I agree

Astounding to me that no one has boycotted these fiascos.

[Skwmom]

18. His ads need to focus on the fact that he is

a leader NOT a politician. It's the politicians that have gotten us in this mess. We need a fresh approach to get out of it.

[cryofan]

21. Clark's new message: "I'm no smooth talking politician, but..."

I want to raise taxes on the rich to pay for basic universal healthcare for all Americans.
If he says that, he will get a jump in the polls.

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Confront the press head-on, like on that Fox audio...

we all listened to. Both interviewers, and debate questioners. Just give 'em hell, because that's what they're doing to him. Say, "asked and answered, now I'm going to talk about something important." Never talk to Wolf Blitzer again.

And I like the Eisenhower-like promise to get us out of the Iraq mess. And maybe talk about his tax proposal. And promise a full-out effort to create jobs -- a lot of people are working two part-time jobs, trying to make ends meet.

[cryofan]

20. soak rich and high income earners to pay for universal health care

THAT should be Clark's issue. Just raise taxes on the rich and high income yuppies enough to pay for "free" basic healthcare for all American citizens. Nothing fancy, just basic healthcare.

[arewethereyet]

23. thats what he's doing here in VA

not sure it will play well here.

[pinkpops]

22. He also come off as nice

big negative so it seems. I think he needs to bite back. I saw him do it that guy ASSman, he could pull it off on the CNN,Fox "heavies" if he could bring himself to. I don't mean outsmart them or navigate around them, I mean intimidate them.

[shivaji]

25. The ONLY way and I emphasize only, Clark can win nomination is by

turning to the right of ALL candidates. The only reason he
polled well in the beginning was that he was thought of as
the most centrist of the bunch. Then he hires the likes of
Lehane, turns way far left and bombs.

Clark has 0 delegates so far. He may not win any next tuesday unless
he wins 15% of votes (which is the minimum required to win delegates)

Better turn away from the extreme left and go right of everybody
and FAST. Now that Lieberman is likely to drop out, that side of
voters is wide open for grabs.

[tishaLA]

26. If he looks extreme left to you,

you haven't looked hard enough. He is perfectly "mainstream" in the party, which is further right than I would have him ideally, but just right for him.

[angee_is_mad]

27. as a Clark supporter

I agree. The General had a bad week, which is good for the other candidates who are having a bad week also.

I loved his speech tonight and we all need to regroup and focus. I believe he realize nothing is going to be given to him. This will only make him stronger a a campaigner.

It isn't over til the fat lady sings!!!

Guess what Ron? I am from GSO also! What are the odds of that happening?

[KittyWampus]

29. Great Advice Here. Clark Should Use Humor To Address Each New Smear

In his media appearances, Clark should have one or two lines lampooning the newest smear.

That is the only way to directly confront the garbage without being seen as a "whiner".

Plus, it helps people relate.

Clark can take all the advice given here, but if the Media keeps twisting his words and attacking for the petty stuff, WHAT GOOD WILL IT DO?

The media will just keep pouring the venom and there won't be will no countervailing voice.

Clark himself needs to address what the media is doing to him. IN PUBLIC. USING HUMOR.

Cripes, he has Moore on his team.

[digno dave]

30. Clark needs to shape up or ship out

His campaign has been poorly run the last 2 weeks. Damage control has been non-existent and Clark refuses to speak from his heart, choosing to go with a script 99% of the time.