Nothing that sinister. They just greased him with money and ego, told him that he wouldn't have to serve very long, just to "put on a good show." They thought he'd win - but I don't think Mondale did. He just went along for the short ride and was VERY relieved not to have to go to DC. I also think he was PRIVATELY APPALLED at the way the Sleazeball Committee handled the entire affair. Yeah, he's an old lefty-lib, but I don't think he likes this slimy Clintonoid Crew of MacAuliffe, Shrum, Car-vile and their ilk one bit. Had he won, he'd be forced to rub shoulders with them for a while, and that couldn't have been a pleasant prospect.
Nope, they paid him, he did the gig, he gets to stay home and have fun - it was a win-win for him. It was only a loss for the Slime Wing of the Dem party.
Michael