Clark pitches for support, dollars with Florida visit.
By ADAM C. SMITH
Published September 19, 2003
HOLLYWOOD - The newest presidential contender, Gen. Wesley Clark, chose Florida for his first campaign trip Thursday, hoping to signal that he's the Democrat who can beat President Bush in America's major battleground states.
"We want Wes! We want Wes!" shouted the crowd that crammed into a Hollywood deli to see the former four-star general, whom many Democrats say has the background to rock the already crowded Democratic field.
"This country has big issues facing it, and we're going to ask the tough questions," Clark, standing atop a chair, told the 200 people who came from as far away as Tallahassee.
"America wants to know why this country has lost 2.7-million jobs since this administration took office. Why is this the only administration since Herbert Hoover's to have lost more jobs than it's created? Why is that? We're going to ask why are we engaged in Iraq, Mr. President? Tell us the truth," he said as the crowed responded with shouts of "Oil!" and "Halliburton!"
But in a later interview with the St. Petersburg Times, Clark demonstrated how big a question mark he remains.
On two hot-button Florida issues - whether drilling should be allowed off the Florida coast and whether the Cuban embargo should be loosened - he was non-committal. He said only that he expects to release specific positions as the campaign progresses.
"In general, I'm an environmentalist. But I also recognize that there's a need for an effective energy policy that meets our energy needs," he said when asked about offshore drilling. "I'd like to see us develop a long-term energy strategy that makes us less dependent, especially on Middle Eastern petroleum sources."
On the Cuban embargo, Clark said that in 1996 and 1997 he led the U.S. Southern Command overseeing activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. He saw first-hand in Haiti "the extraordinary impact of the embargo we had against Haiti on the lives and welfare of ordinary Haitians."
At the Deli Den in Hollywood, Clark largely repeated the announcement speech he gave in Little Rock, Ark. on Wednesday, offering themes that differed little from many of the other Democrats running for president. Still, his background alone was enough to fire up most of the crowd.
"I haven't been this excited since Nixon resigned," said Jim Fleming of Lake Worth.
Mildred Collins, of North Miami-Dade, was leaning toward former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean until Clark jumped in.
"At one time the only issue the Democratic Party had against Bush was the economy, but now we can take him on foreign policy and national security," she said, noting Clark's military background.
But Phyllis Littwin of Aventura was less enthralled after seeing the general in person.
"He'd be a great vice president for Dean, but he's not a very dynamic speaker," she said.
Where other candidates have been gearing up and campaigning for a year or more, Clark is just starting. Far behind in money, he made a blunt pitch for donations at the deli.
"This is America," he said. "We operate on the greenback. I need your support." He planned to meet with prospective Florida donors Thursday night.
Florida is a key fundraising state, but many of the donors and fundraisers already are locked up by other candidates, especially Sen. Bob Graham.
Mitchell Berger, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer who is leading Sen. Joe Lieberman's national fundraising effort, said tapping Florida at this point will be "very difficult" for Clark, unless Graham's lack of momentum forces him out of the race early. "There are a lot of donors who might be looking for a new candidate, but many of them are waiting for Bob Graham's decision," Berger said.
