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Wesley Clark Prepares to Bow Out
Aired February 11, 2004 - 15:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The other story we've been talking about all day, bidding farewell. Retired General Wesley Clark is going to drop out of the presidential race. But his aides say that he will continue to fight for the Democratic Party. As you know, Clark finished third in last night's two Southern primaries. The formal announcement is expected at any moment now in Little Rock, Arkansas.
That's where we find our Dan Lothian. He's standing by.
Dan, let's talk a little bit about last night and what we expect to hear today.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: Well, we expect General Clark to come out in just a few minutes. He will be talking to, we're told by aides, to volunteers and staffers.
This is where he started his race here in Little Rock, Arkansas, some five months ago. And so this is where he wanted to end it today. We're told that he won't be talking about what he'll be doing looking forward, but rather will looking back on what he was able to accomplish in his race, aides telling CNN that he will talk about how he was able to bring the issues of family values and also some issues of national security to the debate.
As you folks were mentioning earlier, though, he had really hoped to have done much better, specifically in the South. He poured a lot of time, a lot effort into Tennessee, had only been able to win in Oklahoma by a small margin there. And so this, it was really a make- or-break situation in Tennessee.
When they were not able to win there last night, then the decision was made to pull out of the race. Aides telling us that it was a very, very difficult decision -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And, Dan, now talks from the critics, the analysts, those watching the campaign, possibly Vice President Wesley Clark, possibly senator of Arkansas?
LOTHIAN: Well, that's right. There's just a lot of speculation about what he will do going forward. Right now, the campaign says that he has not really been entertaining what he will do next, where he will be throw his support, whether he would be interested in being a vice presidential candidate.
Right now, he just wants to take a little break after speaking to supporters here and talk about some of the things -- as I mentioned, some of the things he was able to accomplish in this race. But no doubt, it is a difficult, a difficult day for General Clark. This was his first race. And he really felt that he could do well in this race, and certainly got a big boost after getting into the race late, and when he was left alone up there in New Hampshire, was able to rise in the polls.
And then the polls started sliding after that. They had hoped that they could make their stand in the South. That did not happen -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Dan Lothian, we'll continue to check in with you as soon as he steps up to the podium there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 11, 2004 - 15:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The other story we've been talking about all day, bidding farewell. Retired General Wesley Clark is going to drop out of the presidential race. But his aides say that he will continue to fight for the Democratic Party. As you know, Clark finished third in last night's two Southern primaries. The formal announcement is expected at any moment now in Little Rock, Arkansas.
That's where we find our Dan Lothian. He's standing by.
Dan, let's talk a little bit about last night and what we expect to hear today.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: Well, we expect General Clark to come out in just a few minutes. He will be talking to, we're told by aides, to volunteers and staffers.
This is where he started his race here in Little Rock, Arkansas, some five months ago. And so this is where he wanted to end it today. We're told that he won't be talking about what he'll be doing looking forward, but rather will looking back on what he was able to accomplish in his race, aides telling CNN that he will talk about how he was able to bring the issues of family values and also some issues of national security to the debate.
As you folks were mentioning earlier, though, he had really hoped to have done much better, specifically in the South. He poured a lot of time, a lot effort into Tennessee, had only been able to win in Oklahoma by a small margin there. And so this, it was really a make- or-break situation in Tennessee.
When they were not able to win there last night, then the decision was made to pull out of the race. Aides telling us that it was a very, very difficult decision -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And, Dan, now talks from the critics, the analysts, those watching the campaign, possibly Vice President Wesley Clark, possibly senator of Arkansas?
LOTHIAN: Well, that's right. There's just a lot of speculation about what he will do going forward. Right now, the campaign says that he has not really been entertaining what he will do next, where he will be throw his support, whether he would be interested in being a vice presidential candidate.
Right now, he just wants to take a little break after speaking to supporters here and talk about some of the things -- as I mentioned, some of the things he was able to accomplish in this race. But no doubt, it is a difficult, a difficult day for General Clark. This was his first race. And he really felt that he could do well in this race, and certainly got a big boost after getting into the race late, and when he was left alone up there in New Hampshire, was able to rise in the polls.
And then the polls started sliding after that. They had hoped that they could make their stand in the South. That did not happen -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Dan Lothian, we'll continue to check in with you as soon as he steps up to the podium there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
