If the rich (and maybe powerful) that own private jets won't bet some pocket change that Gore might be president someday then he has serious problems. Heck, a retail charter from Hartford to Nashville would only be $8k to $10k max in a Lear 35A. Some company or bigwig comping it for Gore would have a lot less cash than that in such a trip.
Gore has no "juice". Not if he is riding the cattlecar in the sky. Gore must be even more dislikable and dorky in person than he is reading from a script. No wonder Clinton picked Gore. Gore was almost elected president of the US. That should mean something. Only a mental lightweight or a truly unlikeable person with Gore's backgound would not be able to find a free ride on a private jet.
I've looked around and can't find any mention of Gore being on any boards of any companies. Even as window dressing. The guy must be a real loser.
I agree that Gore has no "juice" left. The only way he can spin out these flights is to say in debates and on the talking head shows is that he "travels with the People and understand their frustration." And there'd be just enough truth in it to give him some cred with the Dim base. But I personally think that Gore is being groomed as the sacrificial lamb. He's going to carry all the sins and faults of the Clinton years for the Party so they can start with a fresh page in 2006-08. After the 2004 race, his chapter in history is closed.