Democrat field makes room for Clark

By David Bamford BBC Washington correspondent

"My name is Wes Clark. I am from Little Rock, Arkansas. And I am here to announce that I intend to seek the presidency of the United States of America".

With those words, retired four-star general Wesley Clark, a Vietnam war hero and former Nato commander, entered the crowded race for the Democratic nomination.

The nine other contenders - most of whom declared their interest in the presidency months ago - have no option but to shuffle over and make room for Mr Clark, hoping that the new kid on the block will not attract away their bedrock support.

Some might be particularly concerned as Mr Clark lays out his stall as an approachable, erudite, handsome southerner, untainted by Washington politics and with a wide knowledge of international and security affairs.

Wesley Clark profile

By entering the race, Mr Clark has already stolen some of the thunder of the only other Vietnam war veteran in the Democratic menagerie, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Mr Clark's frequently stated opposition to America's intervention in Iraq - shared by many other Democrats - should distinguish him favourably from the opposite stance taken by another prominent contender, Senator Joe Lieberman.

Mr Clark's entry meanwhile demolished the potential publicity for Senator John Edwards's entrance into the race this week.

Dean jitters

The camp of the Democratic front-runner, former Vermont governor Howard Dean is also nervous.

Mr Dean shares the former general's opposition to the US-led action in Iraq.

But as a military man, Mr Clark will have stronger credibility on the issue among the American public.

Mr Clark's military credentials are impeccable - unnervingly so for Republican hawks

Mr Clark's background allows him to make that same argument on Iraq while staying insulated from Republican accusations of being soft on security.

A substantial number of Democrats are giving an audible sigh of relief over Mr Clark's entry.

Even some who agree with Mr Dean's politics concede he could be a disaster waiting to happen - popular enough among the party faithful to win enough party primaries to take the Democratic nomination; but too left wing to be electable against President Bush in the national election in November 2004.

Mr Clark's military credentials are impeccable - unnervingly so for Republican hawks, whose arguments he can rebuff with the kind of authority that can be mustered by a glittering career including Nato leadership during the 1999 Kosovo bombing campaign.

His choice as Democrat presidential candidate would do much to neutralise the Republican Bush camp's assertions that only it can be trusted with the nation's security.

Economic weakness

If the Democratic Party power-brokers conclude that Iraq is President Bush's weak spot, it could equally decide that Mr Clark is the best candidate to take him on.

If it's the economy, then Mr Clark may have a tougher sell - lacking in experience both in the political and economic field compared to some of his rivals.

Mr Clark's late entry means that while contenders such as Dean, Kerry, Edwards, and Richard Gephardt are well on their way to raise $20m or more for their campaigns, Mr Clark is only just out of the starting gate

One advantage in entering the campaign late is that Mr Clark has not painted himself into a corner on where he stands concerning President Bush's contentious tax cuts and financial strategies.

Mr Clark can approach them with a fresh eye armed with the latest opinion polls - which suggest the American public is losing enthusiasm for cuts if they mean - combined with high spending in Iraq - the country's budget deficit will go astronomically high.

But Mr Clark's late entry also means that while contenders such as Dean, Kerry, Edwards, and Richard Gephardt are well on their way to raise $20m or more for their campaigns, Mr Clark is only just out of the starting gate.

He may be encouraged with figures from the latest national poll indicating that none of his Democratic rivals have nurtured the political strength at this stage to defeat George Bush in a presidential election.

The poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, still gives Mr Bush a clear lead of at least 10% over the entire Democratic field.

But that is before the Clark factor has been taken into account.