Draft Clark movement awaits his decision

Clark hasn't been to New Hampshire since May, and in a mid-August poll by the New Hampshire based American Research Group Inc., only 1 percent of likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters said they would support Clark, compared with 28 percent who said they support the leading candidate in the poll, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Only 47 percent of the 600 likely Democratic primary voters in the poll said they were even "aware" of Clark, compared with an "awareness" level of 80 to 100 percent for other major candidates, like Dean and Sens. Kerry and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's campaign manager, Joe Trippi, said it could be a struggle even to get Clark's name on the ballot in certain states, where thousands of signatures are required. "I don't think the question is whether he is articulate enough, credible enough or does he have the stature. ... He's General Wesley Clark, of course he does," said Trippi. "The logistics are going to be very tough. It took us seven months to get where we are today."

Political observers also point out that Clark, who has never run for office, has never had to publicly define his positions on a variety of issues, making it difficult to predict how much support he might attract.

In a telephone interview Friday, Clark said he was still planning to announce his decision within the next two weeks. He said he has seen a great desire for change in his travels this summer as the founder and chairman of the non-partisan foundation, Leadership for America.

When asked why he is considering entering the race, Clark said he was most concerned about the Bush administration's foreign policy and the negative international perception of America, as well as the lack of improvement in the economy.

"A lot of people have told me that the current administration frightens them," Clark said. "I've been concerned [about] foreign policy, specifically the excessive focus of war on terror in Iraq. We're in Iraq without a proper strategy for what they're doing there at enormous distraction from the war on terror elsewhere. The position in Afghanistan is crumbling, and Americans are asking, are we safer?"

EL - I am beoming more convinced he doesn't have a chance in the primararies to get a majority or even a plurality of delagates but may run - it is early but Lieberman and the Southern senators are fading. Clark may get votes that would have gone to as well as attracting independents and Republicans. Dean is the clear leader now and Clark would be with Kerry and Gephardt just behind. There is an increasing liklihood we will have a Democratic national convention that will take more than one ballot to choose the candidate.