One Democrat’s Take on the 2008 Race for the White House: ‘Run, Wes, Run!’

January 15, 2007
By Dakota Nichols | Franklin Free Press

Russellville, AL | "I couldn’t help but start chanting, 'Run, Wes, Run!'"

It’s been less than 80 days since we went to the polls for the mid-term election and already the race for the White House is heating up. In case you haven’t heard, state lawmakers voted to move Alabama’s presidential primary to February, making it one of the first primaries in the nation. Previously, Alabama held its primary in June and didn’t play a large role in deciding who would run for president.

Already, the move is paying off. Presidential hopefuls, both Democrat and Republican, have been flocking to the state to try to gain support and raise funds. When you think of Democratic candidates for president in 2008, almost instantly Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards come to mind. But on inauguration day last week, there was another prominent Democratic presidential hopeful stumping in the Heart of Dixie. Retired four-star Army General Wesley Clark came to swear in Alabama’s Agriculture Commissioner, Ron Sparks, for his second term.

After leaving Montgomery, Clark traveled to Birmingham for a fundraiser with Charles Barkley, and then he traveled to Huntsville for a fundraiser at Red Stone Arsenal and a dinner at the UAW union hall. Clark ran for president in 2004, even winning the Oklahoma primary, but he was never able to recover from his late start in fundraising. It looks like he’s off to an early start this time.

You could feel the excitement at the union hall while waiting for the general to arrive. He was greeted with cheers and shouts from the crowd of around 200 supporters. He wore khaki pants and a sweater-vest rather than the usual politician’s suit, which made him seem more like “one of us.” He made his way to the stage shaking hands and posing for snapshots. As he made it to the stage and started his speech, the five-feet, nine-inch general spoke as if he were seven feet tall. He spoke with great charisma about his vision for America. He spoke about the war on drugs, immigration reform, and the current administration’s failure during Hurricane Katrina.

He received very loud applause from the crowd whenever he offered criticism of the Bush administration. When asked about his position on the war in Iraq and the Middle East, Clark responded that we should find a diplomatic solution rather than increasing troop numbers as President Bush is pushing for. General Clark also said he believed the war in Iraq was a mistake from the beginning. The general earned a few points in my book when he made reference to my hero, Bill Clinton. Is it a coincidence they both hail from Arkansas? As Wesley Clark left the stage rushing to catch a plane, the crowd chanted, “Run, Wes, Run,” over and over.

Clark has refused to commit to whether he will run again in 2008, but his visit around the state hinted that he may be running. During the speech in Huntsville, he said, “If I run again, I will win.” On my way to Huntsville that day, I questioned General Wes Clark being the Democrat’s nominee for president in 2008. It’s still too early to decide on whom to support for the nomination, but as I waited to shake the general’s hand as he was leaving, I couldn’t help but start chanting, “Run, Wes, Run!”