Dean leads in new Iowa poll (Gephardt, Kerry & Clark follow)

Wesley Clark’s support lags in Iowa

By Todd Dorman

DES MOINES — Although Wesley Clark is a hot presidential prospect among Democrats nationally, a poll of likely Iowa caucus-goers released Tuesday suggests the retired four-star general is less popular in the state where the fight for the nomination begins in January.

In a poll of 400 Iowa Democrats with a history of caucus attendance, Clark drew support from 7 percent of those surveyed. He placed fourth in the survey, behind former Vermont governor Howard Dean with 23 percent, U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri with 20 percent and U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who drew the backing of 17 percent.

Among those polled, 22 percent have yet to pick a favorite candidate.

The poll was conducted by Washington D.C.-based McLaughlin and Associates on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent. The survey was sponsored by the Alliance to End Hunger, which also asked a battery of questions on hunger and poverty issues.

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1019068&t=Iowa+%2F+Illinois&c=24,1019068

but man this is something. A year ago today he was at something like 2%.

Build up early momentum in starting primary states, and hope to ride the wave to the nomination (to simplify)

I don't know what Clark's is. He's just starting, so he might not have one fully fleshed out. It might be going for a national win, rather than a "sequenced" one. We'll see over the next month or so.

by gaining as much early momentum as he has – and helped by his (relatively) enormous warchest – he's also able to concentate on the states with later primaries, whereas other candidates are focused on either a state-by-state strategy, or a national one.

he has paid staff & offices set up in more states than any other candidate. he's also been running ads in the later markets for longer than any other candidate.

that Dean is hoping for a one-two knockout. Win Iowa, knock out Gep. Win New Hampshire, knock out Kerry. Lose South Carolina.

I'm also betting that Clark will become the stop-Dean candidate after IA and NH. And that's perfectly fine by me; I like both of them. :)

he will be the anti 'Dean' candidate.

And a good thing too!

Without good numbers outside SC, his victory becomes only slightly more important than Gephardt winning Missouri.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

After 3 weeks running, spending 1 town hall meeting in New Hampshire, no organization and some push polls,
Clark in 4th is decent, I say.

we're talking about Iowa in this thread.

1 town hall meeting...... Got Graham's org, but that was just as of 4 or 5 days ago.

Clark was in Iowa a day or two after annoucing.

he's been there several times since, and I'm sure you know that.

New Hampshire's where Kerry goes down.

again, please pay attention. ;)