Clark`s Performance In The Democratic Debate

Right from the start, Wesley Clark bluntly acknowledged his political inexperience -- then used it as an excuse to dodge specifics and blunt criticism in his first presidential debate. Clark mentioned several times that his political career is nine days old. That`s how the retired general avoided the issue of financing the reconstruction of Iraq. He also pleaded ignorance on health care policy, saying he does NOT have a complete package of proposals yet, and stepped around questions about home mortgages and other issues while nine other Democratic hopefuls gave the newcomer a pass. Dan Glickman, a former Democratic congressman from Kansas, say Clark escaped the venom of the rest of the candidates. Democratic strategist Jim Duffy says the real debate was between former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Senator John Kerry and Representative Dick Gephardt. Posted by Mike Hellgren