Wesley Clark

Wesley Clark

Former Democratic presidential candidate and retired Gen. Wesley Clark will be in Denver on Saturday for a state Democratic Party fundraiser, state Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak said Monday.

The $20-a-person-minimum fundraiser will be held at the G.I. Forum, 1717 Federal Blvd. in Denver, from 6-8 p.m., according to an email.

NEWARK - Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) stands by Senate President Richard Codey: Politicker file photoretired Gen. Wesley Clark as his top choice to complement a ticket with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Codey called for Clark as his party’s vice presidential candidate months ago, at a time when the four star general appeared to be on Obama’s short list.

The Clark buzz died after Obama publicly disassociated himself from remarks Clark made on a TV interview show.

"He got into trouble when he questioned whether (presumptive Republican presidential nominee John) McCain’s experience getting shot down in Vietnam qualified him to be president," Codey recalled.

Fifth Congressional District Democratic candidate Hal Bidlack is rolling out some big names for a fundraiser Friday evening in Denver.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), former presidential candidate and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver), former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.), and the entire Colorado Democratic Congressional delegation are on the host committee for the Bidlack fundraiser, scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Patton Boggs Law Firm in Denver.

Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union): Politicker photo 

For the good of the country, a Republican with foreign policy smarts and gravitas would be a wise running mate choice for Sen. Barack Obama, in the view of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union).

In his NJ Voices blog over the weekend, Lesniak said he likes Indiana senior Sen. Richard Lugar, and today he told PolitickerNJ.com that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) would also be good.

"It would show that Obama wants to bring this country together," said Lesniak. "I’m most impressed with Lugar’s ability to articulate a tough and reasoned approach to Iran.

CO-6 is all the rage in a sloooow news week, producing winners and a loser; and a general mishap with his tongue pushes a General into the losers' ranks. So check in with Wally Edge for Weekly Winners & Losers. You won't want to miss the fireworks.

Despite all the feigned outrage fanned by the mainstream media and the right-wing noisemakers, Wesley Clark -- retired four-star general, former Supreme Commander of NATO, wounded and highly decorated veteran of ground combat in Vietnam, and a military man to his core -- assuredly did not denigrate the war record of John McCain when he talked about the Republican candidate on television last Sunday.

It may ultimately be a good thing for Barack Obama that Wesley Clark stepped into such a mess when he discussed John McCain’s military service this week. The background of the Clark flap is by now familiar: On CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, the retired general said that “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” a comment that has been portrayed by the right – and by much of the media – as an effort to disparage McCain’s service.

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) would love Barack Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex)Obama to pick Codey’s old pal, former Sen. Bill Bradley, as his running mate.

He recognizes, however, that a Northeastern, blue state vice presidential candidate on the Democrats’ ticket probably wouldn’t be in Obama's best political interest.

That leads Codey past his sentimental favorite to his second choice: retired General Wesley Clark.

"He’s got personality, he’s got a great wife, and he gives Obama age and military background.," Codey told PolitickerNJ.com.

Clark ran unsuccessfully for president in 2004, losing to Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in the Democratic primary.

In an interview with Aaron Harber, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) listed Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Gen. Wesley Clark, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as potential Democratic vice-presidential candidates, PoliticsWest is reporting.

Salazar also said he would accept the VP nod if presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama offers it to him, PoliticsWest reported -- though he added, "I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it."

The interview will soon be posted online at the Web site of Harber's  television show “Senate In Balance.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced today it will be targeting Rep. John Shadegg (R-3) with robo calls aimed at highlighting what it calls "Republican double talk" over the welfare of veterans. The calls feature former Democratic presidential contender Gen. Wesley Clark, and target four other Republican congressmen as well as Shadegg.

"This new phase of our campaign will hold Republicans accountable for their double speak and playing politics with the bill to fund our troops and veterans," said Jennifer Crider, DCCC spokeswoman, in the release announcing the calls. "Our troops don’t have the luxury of abandoning the battlefield like the Republicans did by voting against the new GI Bill for the 21st century. America’s troops and veterans deserve better.”