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.

[Paul Atreides]

Pardon me while I fall in the floor, laughing.

[Michael Barnes]

I think I beat ya to the floor!!!

[dighton]

Poor Algore. I pledge 1 (one) Zambian Kwacha.

[Paul Atreides]

5,000 won't even keep him in Jenny Craig.

[Cicero]

Gore has been self-destructing for some time, but that speech in San Francisco really killed him. The media tried their best to make him look smart and with it while he was clinton's VP, but he was always stupid and wooden.

His daddy promised him the presidency, but he just couldn't measure up on his own.

[Paul Atreides]

I'll buy him a share of Salon.com.

[Ciexyz]

How fast the mighty fall.

[dighton]

I'll contribute 1,000,000 shares of ZZZ Best.

[Paul Atreides]

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. Think about it, Bubba doesn't want ANYONE eclipsing his legacy. I think that he counted on hanging around the White House during a Gore presidency, guiding him along, but not letting him get above a certain level.

[Paul Atreides]

How about some shares of the Rosie magazine?

[deport]

Snicker...... snicker. Didn't Gore invent the fundraiser? Gosh his abilities must have went out with the buggy whip...

[ChadGore]

I'll trade you 2 copies of "Rosie", 50 shares Salon stock, and a 'Gore/Leiberman 2000' pin for my lump of coal.

[Paul Atreides]

LOL! And some shares of Reuters.

[Paul Atreides]

I believe the only thing he invented is mental illness.

[LibKill]

Chump change indeed.

I join the legions of FReepers who are Rolling On the Floor Laughing Out Loud. :)

[dighton]

100,000,000 shares of Chernobyl Power and Light.

[jackbill]

While Democratic Party fundraising powerhouses Bill and Hillary Clinton continue to rake in millions of dollars for candidates running in this fall's election,

That's horse-hockey. Bill and Hillary were recently here in Maryland - one of the most liberal DemocRAT states in the country - appearing separately and managed only about $800,000 for a freaking Kennedy. Compare that to President Bush's $1.8 million for Bob Ehrlich - yes, in Maryland.

[Asclepius]

... 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" ...

Is that five grand net, or gross?--I mean, could this be a case of the massive expense of hosting Gore and his entourage of parasites, lack-wit bootlick media consultants, psuedo-intellectuals, and other hangers-on cutting deeply into the pelf?

[Paul Atreides]

Here's the best part:

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.

[GailA]

AlGorebatross has lots of time on his hands as the Tennessee demwits especially the demwit Weasel Word Phil Bredesen who is running for governor is RUNNING from AlGorebatross as if albore has the black plague!

Come to think of it AlGorebatross has only campaigned for 2 Tennessee canidates. Leftist boby clement who is running against Lamar, and socialist sherry fisher who is running against Heroine anti-income tax warrior Mae Beavers for state Senate.

I wish News Max or World Net Daily would pick this story up. Weasel Word Phil has now decided to BREAK TN campaign funding law. Our AG says the law is unconstitutional..it has NOT been tested through the TN Supreme Court. Weasel Word Phil says he won't sit still and let Dubya and Cheney come into Tennessee and raise big bucks for Van Hilleary. YET he won't have slick, shillary, tommy dashole, dick gebhard, teddy kennedy or Native SON AlGorebatross campaign for him..says this is a State election not a national one...I thought AlGorebatross lives in Nashville..last time I looked he VOTES in Tennessee. REAL reasons are they are all big spenders, big taxers and ANTI-GUN and he doesn't want to be seen with them.

Bredesen running from Albore

Gore's role minor in state politics Bredesen keeping his distance from ex-vice president