Gore Endorsement -- Potent but Not Foolproof

The Washington Post ^ | September 9, 2007 | Chris Cillizza And Shailagh Murray

[2ndDivisionVet]

Former vice president Al Gore's pronouncement that he is likely to endorse one of the Democratic candidates for president before the primary season is over has set off a slew of speculation about who his choice might be.

Truth is, the courting of the "Goreacle" began many months ago. Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Gore huddled in Nashville in December, and Gore has also met with former senator John Edwards (N.C.). Gore and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) conferred as recently as last week.

Not surprisingly, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has not met with Gore. Neither has Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) nor New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

The falling out between Gore and the Clintons has become the stuff of political legend. Then-Vice President Gore's decision to distance himself from Bill Clinton in the 2000 presidential campaign did not sit well with the Clintons, who resented that Gore was willing to accept credit for the administration's achievements while at the same time criticizing the president's personal conduct.

It seems safe to predict that Gore will not be endorsing the bid of the senator from New York. A more open question might be whether he would throw his support to Obama -- the only candidate in the top-tier who, like Gore, opposed the war in Iraq from the start -- or another surging contender at a critical moment to try to derail Hillary Clinton's quest for the nomination.

The other candidates would do almost anything for Gore's support.

[2ndDivisionVet]

That Gore endorsement sure helped Dr. Howard Dean, didn't it? Let's encourage Mr. Gore to run...LOL

[SampleMan]

What a threat!

[SIDENET]

I sure wouldn't want an Algore endorsement.

It's the kiss of death.

[Elle Bee]

it's like the Godfather kissing Fredo on both cheeks

.

[shankbear]

I can see it now....pick me, pick me, pick me....I am greener than him. I have a smaller carbon footprint than her. Gore is irrelevant.

[Verginius Rufus]

Emmett Tyrrell's account of Gore's endorsement of Dean, in The Clinton Crack-up, is worth reading. The event was held in Harlem, of all places.

[Pikachu_Dad]

Sure hope he runs for the Green party.

[Atchafalaya]

Gore’s endorsement would be like the tendrils of green smoke that killed all the first born males in “The Ten Commandments”.

[ozzymandus]

I’d love to see the RAT candidates running like hell from this one while pretending to love Algore.