Drafting the General

A group of about 100 people gathered recently on a Monday night in Little Rock to eat chips and dip and discuss their shared passion -- General Wesley K. Clark. The bottom line among the group: They want him as their next president.

Little Rock is significant because this is the place the former allied commander for NATO calls home. Clark was born in Chicago, but grew up in Little Rock from age 4 until he graduated from high school. He returned in 2001, after West Point and a storied military career. This city, which watched Bill Clinton rise to global prominence, has recently become ground zero for the nationwide effort to recruit Clark for a White House run. Other "Draft Clark" groups throughout the country existed long before this Arkansas group, but this is the one that matters the most now.

Jeff Dailey, the son of Little Rock's mayor and a former Clinton staffer, created Arkansans for Clark, an online petition for Clark supporter's that will aid in setting up county committees in all 75 of the state's counties. That group is working in tandem with the Draft Clark 2004 movement, which is now in 42 states with more than 100 chapters.

"General Clark has what it takes to ask Bush the tough questions, to really give Democrats a strong edge," says Dailey, who hopped on the Clark bandwagon after hearing him speak. "He is the kind of leader we need to deal with international and national issues, brilliant and he knows the issues. We are pushing forward and plan to present General Clark with the petitions. "

The Draft Clark 2004 movement feels so strongly about the general's chances for a presidential run that they plan to move their national headquarters to downtown Little Rock in the next few days. Clark supporters from around the country plan to descend on the city and work like a full-fledged campaign to convince the general to run.

A show of loyalty like this in the general's backyard could go a long way toward convincing Clark to plunge into the already flooded field of nine Democrats. Maybe 10, if Al Gore decides to re-enter the fray. The big question: Is Clark a Democrat?

Clark has yet to declare a party and plays coy when asked. Most of his close associates insist he is a Democrat because he bashes George W. Bush. His record, which has been culled together from previous interviews to create a presidential candidate dossier, leans left of center. He's pro-affirmative action and pro-choice. He is against drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and sits on the board of Wavecrest Laboratories, a Virginia-based technology company that has developed a breakthrough electric propulsion system that transforms electrical energy into mechanical motion.

Since exiting NATO, Clark has pontificated around the country about global affairs, appeared regularly as a military analyst on CNN, worked for Little Rock's Stephens Inc., the largest brokerage house off Wall Street, and traveled the world attending conferences and accepting awards. He has also launched his own Website for Americans to talk about critical issues, which serves as the perfect outlet to create a platform and gain media exposure. In September, Clark's new book about the war in Iraq and terrorism hits the shelves, a surefire boost for his name recognition.

Recently on National Public Radio, Clark said that he is seriously considering throwing his hat in the ring for president. He still dodges party affiliation, but his admitted interest in running erodes any previous thoughts that Clark only craved media attention so that he could shore up support as a vice-presidential candidate. Wrong-o. Any former general accustomed to controlling troops and leading European counties doesn't want to hang in the shadow of John Kerry or Joe Lieberman. No, Clark plans to lead his own campaign if it isn't too late for battle.