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Clark: 'We can win this election'Jul 18, 2010 (Danville Register and Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Constantly commuting back and forth between Danville and Greensboro, N.C., for work -- and often out of cell phone range -- 5th District independent candidate Jeff Clark maintains that he can win in November. Clark, a Danville resident who runs a water-testing business, argues that despite having about $6,000 cash on hand -- compared to incumbent freshman Democrat Rep. Tom Perriello's $1.7 million or Republican Robert Hurt's $216,000 -- he is not to be ignored. Just getting the 1,000 signatures needed to be on the ballot makes him a viable candidate, Clark said, defending himself against recent attacks from Hurt's campaign. "The law has already defined what makes a candidate viable," Clark said. "That was the intention." Clark said he submitted more than double the necessary signatures to ensure his approval. There is no fee for independents to file for federal candidacy, but it takes about two to four weeks for the Virginia State Board of Elections to verify petitions, said Matt Abell, assistant manager of election services. Clark, a tea party member, said his goal is to provide a voice for independent, disillusioned and undecided voters, although he has acknowledged the challenge he faces against two party-backed, better-funded candidates. Without the free publicity of a televised debate, Clark said he does not stand much of a chance reaching voters district-wide. "This is the only opportunity we have to speak directly to the people," Clark said earlier this week. "If we don't have that opportunity, I don't know how we survive." Perriello has welcomed him into the debate, but Hurt -- whose conservative base is more threatened by Clark's presence -- refuses. "We cannot allow the important debate in this election to be sidetracked by a candidate who is not serious about his campaign or his ability to win," Hurt said in a June 18 statement. Sean Harrison, Hurt's campaign manager, said this week that Hurt would be willing to debate Clark in an NBC 29 (Charlottesville) debate if Clark polled at least 10 percent in an NBC 29 poll. Clark argues that his place on the ballot should be enough. Isaac Wood, a political analyst with the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said Clark's viability hangs on how he can demonstrate his support -- whether that's through polling, fundraising or endorsements. "Unless he can show that his support does exist," Wood said, "then it's difficult for people to see that he's anything more than a protest candidate." A February Public Policy Polling survey pitting Perriello against both Hurt and a generic tea party candidate resulted in 44 percent for Perriello, 27 percent for Hurt, 19 percent for the tea party candidate, with 10 percent undecided. But with Hurt's name recognition much higher after winning nearly 50 percent of the vote in the June primary -- and backing by the Danville Tea Party and five of the six GOP primary candidates -- Wood estimates Clark's chances in November in the lower single digits. However, that's all he may need to be dangerous, Wood said. Perriello beat Virgil Goode in 2008 by less than one percentage point. Clark said Friday he thought he could win by pulling 10 percent of disillusioned voters from each party, plus 15 percent of undecided or independent voters -- a prediction Wood said was unlikely and would also depend on Perriello and Hurt splitting the remaining vote. But although he acknowledged that his battle is an uphill one, Clark still maintained that his candidacy was more than a statement. "Would I be more surprised on Nov. 3 if I woke up and I won than if I lost?" Clark asked. "Of course I would. Anybody with common sense understands that an independent campaign makes for an uphill battle. I have to look at this from a practical point of view. In the end, I hope we win. "But also too," he continued, "if you run a campaign the right way, you can also have victories in sending a message. We're hoping we can do both. I hope -- win or lose -- I can be an inspiration to others in the district. They'll say, 'if this guy can do it, anyone can do it.' I think that holds true to the vision of our founders." To see more of the Danville Register & Bee or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.registerbee.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Danville Register and Bee, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |