The result of a long Democratic primary battle?
Gore/Clark in '04
Democrat activists meet, brainstorm
10/3/2003
Democratic Party activists meeting in Washington for Democratic National Committee fall meetings warned that President Bush still has the upper hand; raised doubts about their newest candidate, Wesley K. Clark; urged second-tier contenders to get out of the race; and worried that the primary fight could drag longer than expected -- perhaps even into the summer convention.
"That would be an unnatural state and uncomfortable for people, but it might be healthy for the party," said committee member Debbie Dingell of Michigan. She said some of her state's top Democrats are considering going to the 2004 presidential convention uncommitted. The Democratic Party chairman, Terry McAuliffe, led a drive to compress the primary contests into a six-week window ending in early March. The strategy allows for the eventual nominee to gather his forces against Bush, who is expected to raise tens of millions dollars more than any Democrat. Ike Leggett, chairman of the Maryland party, said the race may last deep into the spring or summer. "But I don't subscribe to the notion that we need somebody now. I think it's healthy that we have a tough race, 10 voices raised against Bush," Leggett said.
