Clark tops Calif. Democratic voters' poll

By Tom Chorneau

  • Pages 1

Oct 15, 2003 | In a state where a political novice was just elected governor, another candidate with no political experience -- Wesley Clark -- joined presidential rivals Howard Dean and Joe Lieberman atop a poll of Democratic voters in California.

Clark, who entered the race last month, had 17 percent support to 14 percent for Dean, the former Vermont governor, and Connecticut Sen. Lieberman -- numbers all within the Field poll's margin of error of 5 percentage points.

In early September, Dean led with 23 percent support to just 4 percent for Clark, who had not entered the race. The new poll found much of Clark's support coming from men -- 24 percent -- and much of it at Dean's expense.

"It could be the fact that he was a general," said poll director Mark DiCamillo. "There's a credibility factor there. Some might also think he's more electable."

Clark also was the only Democrat to poll better than President Bush in a head-to-head matchup -- 45 percent to 42 percent.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry was at 9 percent, Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri 5 percent and Al Sharpton 4 percent. Carol Moseley Braun had the support of 3 percent, and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio 1 percent.

Thirty-two percent said they were undecided.

"You notice that two of the three leaders -- Clark and Dean -- are running as political outsiders and that might be significant," DiCamillo said. "People are looking for a change, they want someone offering something different."

The poll, drawn from interviews with 451 registered Democrats, was conducted between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1 -- before Californians recalled Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and elected Republican newcomer Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Recent Stories

Palin: A "maverick" move or a nod to the GOP base?
She adds youth -- and inexperience -- to the 72-year-old McCain's ticket, but she is a by-the-book social conservative.
Liquoring up the Democrats
Corporations with business pending in Washington spared no expense on Denver parties.
American revolutionary
In his acceptance speech, Barack Obama stood up for Democratic values, took the fight to McCain -- and proved that the United States is still capable of reinventing itself.
John Kerry: I learned my lesson in 2004
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee talks about his blistering attack on John McCain in Wednesday's speech -- and what he should've done differently four years ago.
Biden -- and Kerry and Clinton -- go on the attack
Before Barack Obama's surprise appearance, a tag team of Democrats, including Bill Clinton, piles on John McCain. And Joe Biden, Rove-style, goes right for McCain's supposed strength.

Daily Newsletter

Get Salon in your mailbox!