Jim VandeHei and Dan Balz, in today's WaPo: "Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has asked retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark to join his campaign, if the former NATO commander does not jump into the race himself next week, and the two men discussed the vice presidency at a weekend meeting in California, sources familiar with the discussions said."
Interesting story. And I'm sure it's factually accurate (not to mention very carefully worded). But it's hard to see how these two could actually get the process started. After all, Dean can't offer Clark the veep slot -- or any other meaningful post -- until the lawyers have given him a thorough vetting. And Clark can't sit down with Dean's lawyers and discuss every intimate detail of his life if there's any chance he'll be running against the doctor in the primaries. Catch 22.
Unless, of course, Gen. Clark already knows he's not running.
[Link via Kevin Drum.]
UPDATE: According to US News' Washington Whispers, we can "forget about" this one. The general's people are telling them it's all "a dirty-tricks campaign pushed by rival Howard Dean who's scared of a Clark candidacy." [Via Josh Marshall]
Posted by Jack O'Toole on September 11, 2003 05:42 AM