Gore's Iowa Fundraiser Nets 'Chump Change'

Newsmax.com ^ | October 19, 2002 | Carl Limbacher

[Paul Atreides]

While Democratic Party fundraising powerhouses Bill and Hillary Clinton continue to rake in millions of dollars for candidates running in this fall's election, former Vice President Al Gore managed to raise just $5,000 at one Iowa event this week, a sum one party insider dismissed as "chump change."

Gore attended a noontime rally in Dubuque on Monday to boost the congressional bid of Ann Hutchinson, who currently serves as mayor of Bettendorf.

But out of the 150 potential contributors who attended, only 55 paid a paltry $100 a piece to meet with the ex-VP. To add insult to injury, candidate Hutchinson herself declined to attend the event, citing a family medical emergency, Dubuque's Herald Telegraph said.

In another sign that Gore's visit left Iowans underwhelmed, Hutchinson's press secretary Mark Nevins said the $5,000 was actually more than they expected the ex-VP to generate.

Even without the embarrassing fundraiser, Gore's swing through Iowa, home to the nation's first presidential caucus, didn't do much to re-ignite enthusiasm in another White House bid.

"If he would have kept himself in the limelight after the election, it would have been better," said Jerry Silverberg, a local Democrat, in comments to the Chicago Tribune. "A lot of people have forgotten about him."

Pam Jochum, a state representative and longtime Democratic activist from Dubuque, told the Tribune, "Al Gore had everything going for him in the 2000 election and he didn't make it. Our party needs a fresh new face to lead its ticket in 2004."

"If Al Gore wants to get into it, he would have to start from zero," Iowa City lawyer and Democratic activist Jim Larew told the paper. "Stripped of the power of the office, I seriously doubt whether Al Gore could create an organizational base to carry him through."

Chicago Sun-Times gossip columnist Michael Sneed cited Democratic Party sources on Friday who said that Gore is unlikely to run again.

"He's not doing what he normally would do in order to run again," a "top, top Dem source" told Sneed.

"Many top Dems are miffed with Gore's refusal to commit for 2004 or bail out," contends next week's U.S. News & World Report's "Washington Whispers" column. "They're also angry with his near absence in the midterm elections - and ridicule Gore when he does help, like calling the $5,000 he raised at an Iowa political event last week 'chump change.'"

If Gore does drop out of the race, there would be no shortage of presidential wannabes waiting to challenge George Bush in 2004.

But currently most polls show that after Gore, Hillary Clinton is the party's the most popular presidential candidate, even though she has repeatedly said she won't run in 2004.

[Cicero]

Keep in mind that Gore lost his home state in 2000. He's not exactly Mr. Popularity. He keeps a toxic waste dump in Tennessee that he inherited from his father, but he rarely visits the old homestead.

[gorebegone]

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

[gorebegone]

"But currently most polls show that after Gore, Hillary Clinton is the party's the most popular presidential candidate"

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Stop I can't take any more....BWA HA HA HA HA HA

[Paul Atreides]

Oh yeah, he had to break out the winter boot socks for that picture.

[okie01]

"I would not be at all surprised to learn that Bubba chose Al as a VP precisely for the reason that Al is a dolt."

As his Vice-President, Clinton needed more than a dolt. He needed a loyal dolt.

Algore was everything the First Felon could have asked for...

[gorebegone]

Or may be his....

[Paul Atreides]

Yep, Al Whore is a bumbling dullard with a mental disorder. I say that in all seriousness.

[okie01]

"Yep, Al Whore is a bumbling dullard with a mental disorder. I say that in all seriousness."

Why else would he come up with:

"There's no controlling legal authority."

And "I drank too much iced tea."

We all have known nine year olds with a better imagination and quicker wit.

[EODGUY]

I honestly believe algore could make more money just threatening canidates with his fund raising support.

I'll wager there are a whole bunch of dems who would pay big bucks to ensure that big al doesn't come within 500 miles of their state, at least prior to Nov. 5th.

In the words of Ace Ventura, al is a Looohoooozeeher.

[Paul Atreides]

Also, look at him when he gives a speech. He gets a glazed, other-worldly look in his eyes. His face contorts and his voice and personality change. This is especially true when he launches into holy-roller preacher mode.

[RWG]

I see their clones everyday. Once you've seen one they all look alike.

[okie01]

"This is especially true when he launches into holy-roller preacher mode."

Do you recall some of the sound bites from Algore's preaching from the pulpit in black churches during the last week of the campaign.

I couldn't believe he actually said some of the things he did -- about Republicans wanting to return to the days of slavery and blacks counting as one-fifth of a person. What was worse, though, he sounded like he actually believed what he was saying and was desperate to convince people of it. An altogether manic performance that was, at the same time, frightening and piteous.

[Paul Atreides]

I remember that speech. When I saw it, and the one in which he was raving about not letting the Republicans "take away our social security", he reminded me of the scene, in the movie 1984, in which the Inner Party speaker is whipping the Outer Party into a frenzy, by the use of lies.

[bert]

.....His daddy promised him the presidency....

I think promised is not the correct word. From conception he was groomed for the job. He didn't have the mental faculties for the job.

[slimer]

But currently most polls show that after Gore, Hillary Clinton is the party's the most popular presidential candidate,

Bawaaaahhhh! How pathetic.

[okie01]

"...he reminded me of the scene, in the movie 1984, in which the Inner Party speaker is whipping the Outer Party into a frenzy, by the use of lies."

Someday, the definitive biography of Algore will reveal the true character of his political life. Suggested working title: An American Comedy.

With "comedy" meant in the classic two-faced sense: comedy and tragedy.

Rarely has so much been expected from one with so little to offer...