Sarah
2003-10-02 00:27:22 UTC
Wesley Clark: Still Not a Democrat
Turns out the Presidential candidate hasn't yet changed his party
affiliation as a registered independent in Arkansas
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2003/nf2003101_0874_db038.htm
It may come as a surprise to some of his supporters, but Democratic
Presidential candidate Wesley K. Clark still hasn't joined the
Democratic Party. According to the Pulaski County (Ark.) Voter
Registrar's office, the former four-star general remains a registered
independent. Even though he has been a declared candidate for the Dem
nomination for two weeks now, he has yet to officially change his
party affiliation.
A Clark campaign spokesman at first told BusinessWeek that the former
general had in fact updated his voter registration to reflect his
newfound status as a Democrat. But a call to the Pulaski County Voter
Registrar indicated otherwise. When asked to explain the discrepancy,
campaign consultant Mark Fabiani says Clark hadn't yet had time to
register as a Democrat.
He adds that the fledgling White House seeker plans to make his
Democratic status official as soon as he gets a breather. "This has
been a whirlwind two weeks," says Fabiani. "There are a lot of things
we have to do, and that's one of them."
COLD COMFORT? Fabiani notes that Clark's independent record --
coupled with the fact that he voted for Ronald Reagan -- could boost
his bipartisan appeal in a general election. And even if Clark doesn't
get around to updating his registration, he'll be able to vote for
himself in the Democratic primary. Arkansas, like many other states,
allows everyone to vote in primaries regardless of party affiliation.
Of course, Clark must first win over Democratic voters in the upcoming
primaries if he's to take on Bush in a general election -- still more
than a year away. And on top of disclosures that he voted for Reagan
and possibly Richard Nixon for President and lavishly praised Team
Bush in some post-September 11 public speeches, this latest revelation
can only come as cold comfort to party stalwarts.
When the Iowa and New Hampshire primary contests roll around, core
Democrats may respond better to Howard Dean's boast that he comes from
"the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" and not have much use
for a candidate for whom that doesn't seem to matter much.
Turns out the Presidential candidate hasn't yet changed his party
affiliation as a registered independent in Arkansas
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2003/nf2003101_0874_db038.htm
It may come as a surprise to some of his supporters, but Democratic
Presidential candidate Wesley K. Clark still hasn't joined the
Democratic Party. According to the Pulaski County (Ark.) Voter
Registrar's office, the former four-star general remains a registered
independent. Even though he has been a declared candidate for the Dem
nomination for two weeks now, he has yet to officially change his
party affiliation.
A Clark campaign spokesman at first told BusinessWeek that the former
general had in fact updated his voter registration to reflect his
newfound status as a Democrat. But a call to the Pulaski County Voter
Registrar indicated otherwise. When asked to explain the discrepancy,
campaign consultant Mark Fabiani says Clark hadn't yet had time to
register as a Democrat.
He adds that the fledgling White House seeker plans to make his
Democratic status official as soon as he gets a breather. "This has
been a whirlwind two weeks," says Fabiani. "There are a lot of things
we have to do, and that's one of them."
COLD COMFORT? Fabiani notes that Clark's independent record --
coupled with the fact that he voted for Ronald Reagan -- could boost
his bipartisan appeal in a general election. And even if Clark doesn't
get around to updating his registration, he'll be able to vote for
himself in the Democratic primary. Arkansas, like many other states,
allows everyone to vote in primaries regardless of party affiliation.
Of course, Clark must first win over Democratic voters in the upcoming
primaries if he's to take on Bush in a general election -- still more
than a year away. And on top of disclosures that he voted for Reagan
and possibly Richard Nixon for President and lavishly praised Team
Bush in some post-September 11 public speeches, this latest revelation
can only come as cold comfort to party stalwarts.
When the Iowa and New Hampshire primary contests roll around, core
Democrats may respond better to Howard Dean's boast that he comes from
"the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" and not have much use
for a candidate for whom that doesn't seem to matter much.
--
"When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding.
When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding." ---Dennis
Kucinich
"When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding.
When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding." ---Dennis
Kucinich