Lawrence supporters of Howard Dean and Wesley Clark are wondering what direction to take now that their candidates are out of the Democratic Party’s race for president.

Clark, a retired Army general, dropped out last week, and Dean announced Wednesday he was no longer seeking the presidency.

Lauren Sullivan, coordinator of the local Dean group, and Dean supporter Margie Swindler both think the former Vermont governor can still be effective at shaping the party’s push to unseat President Bush.

“Howard’s entry into the race really shaped the whole platform of the Democratic race and revived it tremendously,” Swindler said.

Added Sullivan: “I probably feel like Dean actually can be a lot more effective at bringing about change without a presidential election going on.”

“He always spoke from the gut, and that was what we liked about him,” Sullivan said. “We want him to keep on speaking out.”

Local Dean supporters are essentially waiting for their marching orders concerning what to do as next month’s Kansas caucuses draw near, Sullivan said.

As for Clark’s Lawrence supporters, they are still trying to decide what road to take in the caucus, coordinator Rachel Robson said. Clark, the former NATO commander, was at a disadvantage when he entered the race because he was a latecomer and he’d never run for office before, she said.

“We are all completely committed to whoever the Democratic candidate is in November,” Robson said.