To win, tonight General Clark must grab the spotlight. I suggest the following opening or closing statement:
"Good evening. I'm retired General Wesley Clark, and I seek your vote tonight as the most qualified candidate on this stage to defeat George W. Bush in November. As the voters weigh which candidate can most successfully represent the Democratic Part in this election, every candidate on this stage offers something:
"Only Al, Howard and I are Washington outsiders who can bring fresh air to the same old Washington politics.
"Only Al and I have worked day in and day out to create new opportunities for minority Americans.
"Only Dennis, Howard and I have opposed this war, every day, from the beginning.
"Only John and I have served our nation in war and can stand toe-to-toe with George Bush on foreign policy.
"Only Joe and I can reach out and bring centrist and independent swing voters under our tent.
"Only John and I are from the south and can convert crucial red swing states to our cause.
"and only I have fought a war and led a successful peace effort in an ethnically divided, war-torn country, saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children.
"All of these candidates offer one reason or another why they can defeat George Bush. I am the only candidate standing here tonight who offers all of these compelling reasons why I alone can defeat George Bush.
"I am Retired General Wes Clark. Tonight I ask for your vote, so that we, together, can get George W. Bush out of our White House."