Lengthy piece by Joanna Weiss in today's Boston Globe:

Late entry, strong start, long haul

Clark searching for momentum

It's thoughtful, insightful and nicely balanced. The good news for Wes Clark:

Events of the past week present an opportunity for Clark. As Dean consolidates support, his opponents within the party leadership might be moved to settle on an alternative they deem more electable. And as Senator John F. Kerry's campaign struggles to find a footing, Clark, with his southern roots and foreign policy background, could be in a position to fill that role.

Yup. That's definitely his opening. And that's why I've been so gleeful about Kerry's fade. I'm a big Howard Dean supporter as you probably noticed by now, but the guy needs to be tested, needs to be toughened up as much as possible. The last year and a half of campaigning have made him so much stronger than he started out, but he's going to need all he can get going up against Karl Rove.

And I love Wesley Clark, too, and I'd like to see the two go head to head, and may the strongest challenger win. All those other guys I've had a look at: they're way too weak to take on an incumbent. So let's duke it out boys, let's get those dwarves out of the way so Dean and Clark can mix it up one on one.

Back to the Globe piece: Nice capsule of the current strategy, which you're probably aware of:

Aides hope to finish third or a close fourth in New Hampshire, where they will start running their first television ads within weeks. But they see their make-or-break day a week later, on Feb. 3, when seven states will hold primaries. Some of Clark's staffers are dispersing to the states he mentioned, hoping to establish him as an alternative to Dean, whose Yankee demeanor could play poorly in the South and West.

The problem with the strategy:

But some political analysts say the Feb. 3 strategy is a gamble, because the primary process relies on momentum: Strong finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire could propel Dean toward success down the line.

The real challenge:

The rigors of a three-decade Army career might color Clark's public persona, as well. He's no firebrand on the stump. His debate performances have been cautious. By nature, he is inclined to long answers instead of digestible soundbites. Aides have dubbed his town hall meetings "Conversations with Clark," but they can be one-sided; at a Georgia event last week, Clark talked for so long that there was time for only two questions from the audience.

And some Clark supporters say they ache to see more personality and humor in Clark's earnest public appearances.

"I just think he's so cerebral that it's hard for him," said Ostroy, the Manhattan supporter. "Sometimes people like that, they never turn it off. They're always being that bright guy, and they never just get down and dirty and yuk it up. . . . You just want to put your arm around him and say, `Wesley! Lighten up, dude!' "

That's what it's all about. All the damn beltway boys always get so damn bogged down in the process. All that takes care of itself if somebody really sparks the public imaginaton. Or it can.