National Democratic Activists Meeting

Democratic Party activists meeting in Washington for Democratic National Committee fall meetings warned that President Bush still has the upper hand; raised doubts about their newest candidate, Wesley K. Clark; urged second-tier contenders to get out of the race; and worried that the primary fight could drag longer than expected -- perhaps even into the summer convention.

"That would be an unnatural state and uncomfortable for people, but it might be healthy for the party," said committee member Debbie Dingell of Michigan. She said some of her state's top Democrats are considering going to the 2004 presidential convention uncommitted.