What if Clark runs as an Independent?

[Postman]

who does he hurt more in the general election? Repubs or Dems?

[diplomats]

1. If he runs it'll be as a Dem

there's no doubt about that.

[imhotep]

2. Why is he ashamed

to call himself a Democrat/ Liberal?
That is the question.

[diplomats]

5. Military people are careful about delving into politics

Look at Colin Powell. He was cryptic about what party he belonged to, and no one said he was ashamed of being a Repub when he finally said that's what he was.

[Mz Pip]

3. He already ruled that out

He stated that this was basically a 2 Party system. If he runs, he'll run as a Dem.

MzPip
:dem:

[Walt Starr]

4. He'd be a spoiler, but would have a chance to take it all

If the Dems ran Lieberman and Clark went third party, I predict a close three-way race with the election going to Bush in the House of Representatives because nobody takes a majority of the electoral college.

He would have a chance, but Lieberman would have to end up beign a distant third in that instance.

Any election forced to the House due to a lack of a majority in the EC automatically goes to Bush.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Tough to tell...

but I'd say we're screwed.

Clark doesn't have the name recognition at this point to get much in the way of independant votes, but nobody has ever done a successful 3rd party run anyway.

Off the top of my head-- T. Roosevelt, Wallace, Anderson, Perot, Nader. There were a few others, and none came close to getting the prize. Teddy Roosevelt should have had the best shot, having already been a popular President, but even he couldn't make a go of it.

I suspect Clark wouldn't throw it away like that, he's smart enough to know it would all be a big waste, but if he did it's anyone's guess who he'd steal votes from.

I'd like to say Shrub, but who knows...

[tameszu]

7. He won't run as anything else

except a Democrat. End of story.

And it's not shame that keeps him from declaring that he's a Democrat/liberal. Few politicians, especially those running as challengers, like being bound to existing ideological labels that they haven't created, since they are bound to baggage, which obscures the new policy formations they want to advocate. Neither Dean nor Kerry, sensibly, want the media to stick the "liberal" label to them either.

As for being a Democrat, Clark has spent his entire career as a non-partisan public servant. He really has no party at the moment. Now, many Democrats have looked at his positions and feel that he would have a natural home in the Democratic Party and everything he and people who know him have said agrees with this. But until he declares, there is no need for him to give the SCLM anymore of a chance to label him than he needs to.

[unfrigginreal]

8. Right On!(oops, where'd that come from)

Seriously, you've got it right tameszu. Anybody that takes the time to investigate Clark will realize that the only party that fits him is the Democratic Party.

I find it interesting that most of the folks that question his party are hoping that he's not Democratic.