Javascript scope error

The following block of code is failing to refill the EntryDate box with the date after the
$(form).clearForm();

var entry_date attempts to be outside of either of those functions and therefore accessible.  But it doesn't appear to be. Do I need to make it global?  Outside of all the functions in the file?  Or is there a better way?  Thanks!

function setupAjaxForm(form_id, form_validations){
	var form = '#' + form_id;
	var form_message =  'server-message';
	
	// en/disable submit button
	var disableSubmit = function(val){
		$(form + ' input[type=submit]').attr('disabled', val);
	};
	
	// setup loading message
	$(form).ajaxSend(function(){
		//$('#server-message').removeClass().addClass('loading').html('Loading...').fadeIn();
	});
	
	// setup jQuery Plugin 'ajaxForm' 

    var entry_date;

	var options = {
		dataType:  'json',
		beforeSubmit: function(){
			if(!Validation()){
				return false;
			}
			

            /***** FETCH THE VALUE HERE ****/
            entry_date = $('#EntryDate').val();

			disableSubmit(true);
		},
		success: function(json){
			$.blockUI({ 
			message: json.message,  
					  css: { 
            border: 'none', 
            padding: '15px', 
            backgroundColor: '#000', 
            '-webkit-border-radius': '10px', 
            '-moz-border-radius': '10px', 
            opacity: '.5', 
            color: '#fff' 
				} }); 
			setTimeout($.unblockUI, 2000); 
			
			disableSubmit(false);
			if(json.type='success')
				$(form).clearForm();
				$('#EntryDate').val(entry_date);
		}
	};
	$(form).ajaxForm(options);

}

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