Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark swooped into the heart of President Bush's territory Monday and declared the nation needs a change in leadership.

"I'm happy to be down here in George W. Bush's home state. I think people in Texas know very well what this administration in Washington is about today," said Clark, who entered the Democratic presidential race 12 days ago.

Clark repeated his call for an independent investigation into reports that a Bush administration official leaked the identity of a covert CIA agent. Clark said the name was released "in violation of law, in violation of good sense, in violation of protection of the American intelligence system."

"It's wrong, it's shady, it's cheap. And we're calling for an independent commission to be established," Clark said, to cheers from the crowd.

The White House on Monday denied that Bush's chief political strategist, Karl Rove, was involved in revealing the identity of a CIA operative.

Other Democratic presidential candidates who called for independent probes were former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean; Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo.; Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.; and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Clark said the U.S. Justice Department under Attorney General John Ashcroft is not the agency to investigate.

Clark also said Bush's tax cuts have hurt the economy and that Bush has taken the United States into "an unnecessary war in Iraq in which we've lost hundreds of people. We don't need to be there."

After folk singers warmed up the crowd in this Democratic bastion of Texas, Clark stepped onto a stage in front of a large Texas flag at a downtown park, where some 400 people greeted him with chants of "We want Clark!" Some held signs that said, "Texans for Clark" and "Don't Mess with Wes."

During a pause Clark's speech, someone in the audience yelled, "Give 'em hell, Wes." Clark responded: "Let me tell you something. We're going to give them the truth and they're going to think it's hell."

He went on to say that he was paraphrasing President Harry Truman and he praised Truman's presidency. "He understood where the buck stopped," Clark said.

Before the rally, Clark attended a fund-raiser at a private home and met with 18 Democratic state legislators who have endorsed him. One of the lawmakers, Democratic Rep. Richard Raymond of Laredo, introduced Clark and said of Bush, "General, if you send him back to us, we'll swallow hard and we'll take him."

On Monday night in Wichita Falls, Clark defended his political affiliation during a question-and-answer session that followed an address at Midwestern State University.

"What I believe in and what I stand for, the Republican Party doesn't believe in," Clark said. "We believe in helping people and when we looked around America, we found there was one party that believes like that, and there was one party that didn't. I'm pro-choice, I'm pro-affirmative action, I'm pro helping people, I'm pro-jobs, I'm pro-environment."

Clark also told the audience that he wasn't considering any possibility of running as a vice presidential candidate or accepting a position in a Democratic administration, the Wichita Falls Times Record News reported in its Tuesday editions.

"I'm seeking the highest job in the land," he said.

Clark is one of several Democratic presidential contenders who are making a swing through Texas this week. Earlier in the day, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina attended a private fund-raiser at the home of former Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.

The Clark rally in Austin drew supporters of all ages.

"I figured the Bush economy is not exactly helping people out like me, young professionals," said Andrew Millspaugh, 25, an out-of-work sales representative. "General Clark, I think, understands our problems better."

Walter and Mary Autry, a retired couple in their 70s, drove two hours with a group of friends from Bandera to hear Clark speak. They cited several reasons for supporting Clark.

"He's a general. He's very intelligent. And he's a Democrat now," Walter Autry said.