Prediction: Al Gore won't run and will endorse Barack Obama for President

After seeing Obama's official announcement, which was quite powerful imho, I had the feeling that Al Gore would rather not get in the race at this point.

And with Obama's speech, I could see how Gore would easily fit in as a person who would not only endorse him, but also could be the Secretary of State or Secretary of the Environment in an Obama administration.

Am I offbase with my prediction?

Why piss off any future president?

Gore will be lobbying for U.S. legislation consistent with his climate change agenda.

Why have an enemy in the White House and a couple of enemies in the Senate?

showing the best chops for REAL LEADERSHIP on the SO MANY issues facing the world.

If Gore is running, he will declare soon. There is no way he will hold off until "Fall" to get in. In today's campaign age, that would be virtually as hopeless as NEVER declaring and hoping to be "drafted at the convention." Gore's a smart, experienced politician. He knows this too. I think he COULD and probably WOULD suddenly become the front-runner if and when he gets in, but even such putative front-runners can't hold off 'til OCTOBER or something to begin the campaign - fundraising, hiring, setting up the operation, getting boots on the ground in Iowa and NH, etc.

in the best position to come off that series of concerts and dive in right afterwards.

Besides, he can say he gave the others a fair chance to display they have what it takes but they fell short of what this world needs at this time. Gore isn't coming from the same place as others - he doesn't have to PROVE he can be commander-in-chief or show creds on foreign policy or envoironmental issues. He already has that- and if the others can't develop credible leadership on a variety of serious issues and that becomes obvious by late summer, then he has every obligation to jump in.

September or something? I wonder also about your reliance on your idea that the others will have "fallen short" by then and Gore can come in on that. By September, say, most Americans, like now will STILL have NO interest in the Presidential Campaign yet. It will still be too early. But by September, money, workers and activists are probably getting locked up pretty solid, especially for Iowa and New Hampshire. There will be an active campaign going on, but I can't see by September that even that active campaign - BEFORE any voting actually takes place, don't forget - will have shown any of the present Democratic Big Three to have "fallen short" (or for the "herd" to have been thinned, as another poster here suggests.)

in foreign affairs OR some military experience among the three of them to bring to the table. Because I expect the corpmedia WILL adopt the GOP storyline that national security will STILL be the main issue, I have my doubts that any of the current top three can overcome that point once the corpmedia machine revs up against them.

ALOT of Democrats can sound good and even great in the primaries, but unless the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated before 2008, I do expect the GOP storyline to prevail. Few meet that threshold that will be deemed the most important. Gore is one who does.

I'd bet more on your position than against it. After watching today's event I can't say I'd be broken hearted if it played out as you say.

Julie

On edit: I'd also add that I could see a Gore/Obama ticket happening too.

IMO, Al is going to run. As much as I admire Obama, this is Gore's time. I'd think Obama would make
an excellent VP, though, which would set him up nicely for a run after Gore's two terms. Obama
will be older and the experience will make him look much more electable.

I'd like Gore to get in the race, but feel that his past statements regarding not wanting to get into politics again stand on their own...

I think we'll see Al wait until the herd thins a little and then enter the fray.

we'll see Al "wait until the herd thins a little" and then gets in? Look at reality. The Democrats have a solid Big Three candidates now - Hillary, Obama, Edwards. All pretty savvy pols. Those three big alphas of the "herd" aren't going to get thinned out until the caucuses/primaries begin to roll, and by then, in fact, far before then, it will be TOO LATE, even for Al Gore.

Every extra month Al Gore stays out from now on, that's another month that the Big Three lock up big donors, hire the best campaign staff, attract grass-roots support from activists on the ground and on the Web, etc. A Presidential Campaign of today is such a production, so to speak, that you can't sit around and wait. Gore knows that too I'm sure. I think if he enters, it will come not too long after his film wins the academy award. He's not "too late" yet, and coming in a short while after the Oscars will be a good start. He'll jump in soon or not at all.

No need to be sorry ... we all disagree on things. We'll just have to see. :)

Gore has refused to make any definitive statements that he will not run. In December of 2002 Gore held a press conference and stated clearly and undeniably that he was not running in 2004. Gore has been unwilling to do that this time, instead using coy denies, like, "I am not planning" or "I don't forsee circumstances in which..."

However, presuming the draft Gore movement continues to gain ground, he will have an excuse, "Well, I wasn't planning to, but when 1 million people ask me to, I can't disappoint them."

If he didn't want to run and REALLY didn't plan on it, he would make a similar definitive statement about 2008, but leave the door open for the future.

Then the phone rang, and Bill Clinton was on the other end wanting to "talk." According to David Mariness, he privately made Gore an offer of a co-presidency. Gore would have the influence over eight spheres of interest. Those spheres were arenas in which Gore was keenly interested.

So despite his earlier announcement he would not run, run he did.

It would be a horrible mistake on his part. He's had the benefit of it NOT being labeled a political stunt to this point. If he runs, that goes out the window along with all the climate change momentum we've got going. In the end, if he is serious about the planet, he won't run. And I think he and Kerry will stay out of the race for a while, but their people will go to Obama. We've got to get this party out of the Clinton hands and I'm betting they both know it.

We could really get things done then.

I think DUers underestimate the negative view average folks still have of Gore to begin with. Within 24 hours of his announcement, there will be a massive campaign to politicize his environmental work as was done with John and Teresa's book as you may recall - coupled with jokes that he just can't resist the limelight etc. He will be turned into a complete laughing stock within a week, with a few snide remarks coming from well-placed Democrats too. A Gore candidacy would not be a cake-walk and would be just as painful as a Kerry candidacy. Now Gore may decide that we need the whole package, the right policy and the experience and the leadership, but it will be ugly ugly if he gets in. And we will lose momentum on climate change unless a Democrat wins the Presidency.

I've held my tongue on Gore all this time. I've said what I have to say. It would be a tragic mistake for him to run, when he has the opportunity to be remembered as the man who saved the planet from global warming.

If he doesn't run, Obama would be a fine choice to endorse!!

about staying out of public office for now and working through non-governmental organizations for environmental causes. But I do think that he will endorse Barack Obama.

I'm just kind of waiting. I'd really like to Gore run.

He served that position for 8 years, I doubt he wants it again.

think he would do whatever was most effective to further his cause -- even if it meant repeating as VP -- which would be in capacity very different than his previous experience as VP.

It would be an insult to someone of Gore's stature to be VP again at this point in his life and career.

Besides, Al found out how much impact you can have on issues as a VP. Not much.

I predict that Gore will announce on Sunday November 4th - one year out from the general election.

Hillary should be the next Senate majority leader.

Clark, Edwards and Richardson could all serve in the Cabinet.


Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :)

Make a date with Al Gore on the David Letterman Show -- February 14th!

Read Rolling Stone magazine: WHY GORE SHOULD RUN -- AND HOW HE CAN WIN
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13248532/why_gore_should_run__and_how_he_can_win

Get ready for Al Gore's next book - The Assault on Reason - out in May!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600877.html

Visit the following pro-Gore websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

:kick:

According to the latest rumor - it might be tomorrow (Tuesday 13th).

But Al Gore is not listed among this week's guests on the CBS website.

bookmark it.

If Gore does not seek the nomination, it means that he honestly believes that he can achieve more in other ways. Already now he is an unofficial worldwide ambassador in support of efforts to address the climate crisis. He has also talked about the need to de-politicize energy and climate issues. He does not want climate change to be a left-right issue. He wants Democrats and Republicans to work together on finding solutions. He wants to work with governments around the world of all colors and flavors. Maybe he wants to continue doing this for the whole of 2007 ... and for the next 5 or 10 years?

Definitely Gore would want to work with the next President, helping to shape and define public policy on climate protection, renewable energy, international agreements, etc.

Maybe Gore could be appointed as Secretary for Energy and Environment?

In this scenario, it would make sense for Gore to stay out of the primaries completely. He has nothing to gain from endorsing one or other candidate. But it would not prevent him from speaking to the Democratic National Convention or campaigning in support of the Dem ticket in the fall of 2008.

But if you are asking me for my dream ticket right now, I would say Gore-Obama! :)

I also think there is a 20% to 30% chance that Gore will "change his mind" during the summer and enter the race sometime in September or October. It depends on how the race for the nomination develops over the next few months, on the response to Gore's next book "The Assault On Reason", and on the strength of the Draft Gore movement (which is all about creating the conditions for Al Gore to enter the race).

If you want to place a bet on a Democrat winning the 2008 election, here are the odds you will get:

From www.sportsbook.com (Sportsbook - Live Odds - Exotics)

2008 Presidential Race (All Bets Action)
11-04-08 6:05 PM

Hillary Clinton 1-1 (projected chance of winning the Presidency is < 50%)
Al Gore 3-1 (< 25%)
Barack Obama 6-1 (< 14%)
John Edwards 8-1 (< 11%)
Bill Richardson 12-1 (< 8%)
Wesley Clark 20-1 (< 5%)

So in other words - sportsbook.com believes that Gore has a better chance than Obama or Edwards.

It also might reflect the fact that more people are placing bets on Gore winning the Presidency.


Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :)

Read Rolling Stone magazine: WHY GORE SHOULD RUN -- AND HOW HE CAN WIN
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13248532/why_gore_should_run__and_how_he_can_win

Get ready for Al Gore's next book - The Assault on Reason - out in May!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600877.html

Visit the following pro-Gore websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

:kick: