Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark received endorsements today from more than 30 Maine
legislators and a a large GLBT
group.
"(Clark) has such an easy understanding of the
environment in which we live," Senate President Beverly
Daggett, D-Augusta, said. Daggett said Clark's military and
foreign policy experience make him the best Democrat to challenge
President George W. Bush in November -- a sentiment echoed by
many who participated in the Statehouse press conference
Thursday. The Clark campaign also has organized quickly in Maine
in the past few weeks, pulling in more than 300 volunteers, Rep.
Janet Mills, D-Farmington, said. Mills joined 28 current members
of the House and three from the Senate -- Daggett, Ethan
Strimling, D-Portland, and Chris Hall, D-Bristol -- at Thursday's
press conference.
Many of the gay activists who have so ardently supported Deans
candidacy have not even given the race a second look since the
late entry of WESLEY CLARK, the former NATO commander whose
positions on gay issues are indistinguishable from those of the
former Vermont governor. Clarks advantages over Dean are
numerable: His military record and upbeat campaign make him much
more electable, especially in regions where Deans angry
rhetoric falls flat, as it did in Iowa. As a former military
leader, Clark speaks with greater authority on Dont
Ask, Dont Tell than Dean, who skipped Vietnam over a
supposed bad back to go skiing for six months. Like Dean, Clark
talks with what appears to be complete comfort about gay issues
and has been accessible to the gay press, including not just this
newspaper but the Advocate, and Sirius Satellite Radios
OutQ network. In each of those interviews, he has not just taken
positions but promised leadership.
Clark in New Hampshire on Friday
Rob is the
founder and editor of the progressive news site robwire.com and is a
frequent contributor to rob.dailykos.com