WASHINGTON – Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark (search), trying to use his biography to connect with voters just as Bill Clinton did in 1992, is starring in a 17-minute campaign film that chronicles his Arkansas upbringing and decorated military career.
The film, "American Son," was produced by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (search), the same filmmaker who produced several such pieces for Clinton, including the celebrated 1992 convention film "The Man from Hope." Bloodworth-Thomason, an old Clinton friend, also produced the TV series "Designing Women," "Evening Shade" and "Hearts Afire."
The Clark film covers his childhood, his schooling at West Point, and his service as NATO supreme allied commander.
Supporters attending a New York fund-raiser for Clark this week will get a preview of the film. It then will be handed out to supporters at 500 house parties across the country on Dec. 18.
Chris Lehane, a Clark campaign spokesman, said the film may run on TV stations in the future.
The film is just one more example of how the Clark campaign is embracing the retired general's similarities with Clinton. Dozens of former Clinton staffers are working on Clark's campaign, and the two men's early lives have striking parallels.
Both are Arkansas natives who were raised as Baptists by their mothers after their fathers died while they were young. Both go by the last names of their adoptive fathers and learned in adulthood about brothers they had never met. Both earned Rhodes scholarships (search) to study at Oxford University in the late 1960s.
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