The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> CLARK COUNT br> Retired Gen. Wesley Clark may or may not be a stalking horse for former President Bill Clinton 's aspirations for his political partner, Hillary, but he's definitely using Clinton's connections to the n th degree /p>

Last night, he spent part of his evening with Clinton's chum Mary Steenburgen, who was hosting a fundraiser for Clark in Los Angeles. That party was to top off an evening that started at the home of ultra-liberal Norman Lear, who was also hosting a fundraiser for Clark.

According to a campaign operative for the Sen. Joe Lieberman campaign, Clark is using almost every Clinton connection he can to jump-start the finances of his campaign. "We should know, thanks to Gore in 2000, we were using many of the same sources, especially out in Hollywood," says the Lieberman staffer. "We're getting little traction out there right now because Clark is drawing on all of them."

Not surprisingly, Clark is using his "man of the moment" status to lend a hand to another Clinton client, California Gov. Gray Davis. According to several Democratic Party sources in California, Clark wasn't big on appearing with Davis anywhere in the state, but Clinton pushed the appearances, saying it would raise Clark's visibility in the state, hook him into Davis's money people, and make him appear to be a party leader. Clark, after initially declining, then speaking to Clinton, agreed to the Davis appearances. But he also insisted on making at least one appearance with Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

One appearance he won't be making is on Jay Leno's "Tonight Show." The NBC late night show invited Clark on, but advisers encouraged him to decline. "Leno is a Republican," says a former Clinton aide doing work in Washington for Clark on Capitol Hill. "Leno's whole shtick with Arnold leading up to his announcement was pure politics. Democrats are going to be leery of going on that show. Letterman has more cachet anyway."

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topics:
Harry Reid, Bill Clinton, Hollywood, Iraq, Unions