Many party insiders say Clark is really playing another game: angling for the vice presidential nomination. According to this analysis, Clark can’t possibly raise the money to sustain a candidacy this late in the game. “It’s preposterous,” sniffs one rival strategist. (The same financial burden holds for another possible late entry: Sen. Joe Biden.) Clark doesn’t completely reject the veep scenario. He’s “honored” to be considered, but insists that’s not his goal. Meanwhile, party officials are bracing for new fund-raising reports this week that could actually narrow the Democratic field. Advance word is that John Kerry will lead the contenders with more than $6 million in new funds raised in the last three months, but Howard Dean will make a surprisingly strong showing with about $5 million. Sen. Joe Lieberman, who insiders say has raised only about $4 million, is expected to lag behind both as well as Dick Gephardt and John Edwards. This could generate new pressure for the Connecticut senator to pull out. In any case, all the Democrats have been completely outpaced by President Bush, who, thanks to a recent fund-raising blitz, is expected to report a jaw-dropping $30 million in campaign funds.
