Taking Washington by Storm
I was in Washington when hurricane Isabel swept through town, blowing away trees and power lines. For a day or so, the air was refreshingly clean. Even the hot air of conventional wisdom had dissipated, though not as a result of Isabel. No, the pundits were once again overcome by reality. This time it was an energized Democratic base and the appeal of General Wesley Clark.
It’s too late for Clark said many of the pundits. He needs money, a campaign infrastructure, better name recognition. So here we are, a mere five days after Clark’s announcement that he was entering the race, and Clark is leading the Democratic pack and would even nudge Bush in the general (no pun intended) election. That’s according to a new CNN/USA Today poll. A Newsweek poll released on Monday also shows Clark ahead of the other Democratic candidates.
Now a few of those same pundits are suggesting that Clark simply got a boost from the publicity surrounding his announcement. Well, of course he did. But that’s a facile explanation for his quick rise to the very top of the polls in less than a week. And, in any case, his presence there will have an immediate and tangible impact on his candidacy in the form of money. Major donors, many of whom reportedly have been holding back until now, will look at the polls and say this guy is for real.