NY Observer claims Gore is mulling a run, will decide in September

http://www.observer.com/20070219/20070219_Steve_Kornacki_opinions_wiseguys.asp

Why Al Gore Won’t Let the Rumors Die
By Steve Kornacki

It’s too much to say that Al Gore has decided to run for President in 2008.

But it does seem that he wants to preserve the option.

Certainly, the recent buzz about a possible Gore campaign in 2008 doesn’t seem to be spontaneously generated. According to one influential Democratic insider, close associates of the former Vice President have communicated to him and other prominent fund-raisers who are uncommitted to the other ’08 candidates that Mr. Gore will consider entering the race—if an opening presents itself—in September.

Ask Mr. Gore’s spokesperson about the rumors, and the response is the same sort of mushy non-denial that Mr. Gore himself has become expert at serving up. “Obviously,” said Kalee Kreider, “he appreciates the sentiment from folks who are interested in this, but really, his efforts are focused on global warming.”

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If ever he mulls it over, now is the time. He would unite the Democratic Party in a way no other candidate could come close to doing.

The planets are aligned. Fingers crossed.

Either announce now, or forever hold your tongue!

Clark immediately became a white knight type candidate in the media and briefly polled second behind Dean (and first in one poll).

Consider that Clark had NO name recognition a few months before he ran. He had no experience running and made mistakes. The fact that people didn't know him made things like a tape from a dinner where he praised Bush devastating, because people didn't know him. Gore has experience running and name recognition. If Clark was able to become a serious candidate, so should Gore - from the minute he enters.

Dean in fourth quarter 2004 raised $40 million on the internet. Gore could easily be the internet candidate. The one thing that might be tough is if most of the best people are already committed. (But people do move from one campaign to another and with the intensity we see now, any candidate can implode.

and yes, I have ALL the cartoons that announced him as the candidate to beat. Too bad that was so short lived thanks to the MSM, and some bad handling. :mad:

I know that 2008 is not 2004, but I worry about what the intense spotlight this early will do to the candidates.

After 2004, I watched an August 2003 Road to the White House of Kerry in NH. It being Kerry, I loved it. The important point though is that at the various places where he spoke to people, you could hear variations on themes that became Kerry's message in 2004. Although he knew what he wanted to run on, he got to play with how he wanted to speak about them. I also remember seeing an early version of Edwards' speech.

It is not pleasnt to think that whoever the candidate is will have 2 years of having every word they say parsed by the Republicans to find a string of words they can use.

Gore is a public figure as it is - but announcing would make things worse - so putting it off has advantages.

But Al Gore already has nationwide respect and name-recognition that other wannabees can only wish for! :)

Unless and until Gore endorses another candidate, we have to assume that he is keeping his options open. So it is too soon for those of us who prefer Gore to switch our allegiance.


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 websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)

:kick:

and he can say that he gave the Dem candidates a fair chance to show their plans and leadership, but they fell short.

That's what I had predicted Gore would do last week, and was told that my view was the 'least likely' scenario. Heheh....

And all the big donors, as well as most small donors, would be committed to a candidate by then.

And if Gore really waits even later than September, he will be seen as the "stop (fill-in name)" candidate. I don't think that Gore would want to be cast in the same thankless role as Jerry Brown in 1992 (to stop Clinton), or Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton in 1964 (to stop Goldwater).

I am willing to take up the banner. Hey, he can play it as he gave them their fair shot and it was up to them to show what they have.

I think he'll be a welcome sight by Labor Day.

Read the article. It does a fine job of explaining the scenarios. He can, should and probably will wait unti then whether he's in or out.

A lot can happen between now and then and he is wise to wait and size things up from closer up. Now's too far out/away.

Julie

:hi:

I actually think Gore could pull that off and still be a major factor.I see people from many camps leaving to join Gore instead.Not me of course :)

I think with his current popularity it would be easy for him to raise money quick,and by the boatload.

But considering how events are pushing for a very early resolution to the nomination process, I fear that waiting in the wings is the wrong strategy to pursue.

Gore is the best qualified for the Presidency and the challenges our nation and the world faces in this century. The more reason why being coy as to his intentions is not the thing to do.

Especially with the General still being uncertain..

In any event -- the more Democratic candidates we have, the better !!! Especially someone with Gore's background!

BRING HIM ON !!!

I hope Al Gore runs we need him! For all six counties, the weighted mean rejection rate for ballots cast by blacks was 14.0 percent, meaning that nearly one of seven African Americans who entered the polling booth in these counties had their ballots rejected as invalid. RACIAL DISPARITIES IN BALLOT REJECTION RATES CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLACKS AND NON-BLACKS IN EDUCATION, LITERACY, INCOME, POVERTY OR ANY OTHER FACTOR CITED BY DISSENTERS HOW George Bush became PRESIDENT Fahrenheit 9-11 *PART 1* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gAtFJ8MPjo&mode=user&search= Supplemental Report on the Racial Impact of the Rejection of Ballots Cast in Florida’s 2000 Presidential Election and in Response to the Statement of the Dissenting Commissioners and Report by Dr. John Lott Submitted to the United States Senate Committee on Rules in July 2001 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/vote2000/report/appendix/app10.htm&h=337&w=391&sz=5&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=SPdBQsAoYNOqTM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delection%2B2000%2BFlorida%2BSenators%2B%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den



:kick:

September? "if an opening presents itself"? What does that mean?

Is he gonna whack the frontrunner, lol?

Seems way too late, to me.

:shrug:

The Senator Wellstone incident YouTube video,if you can, you should watch or listen to this from YouTube! What happened to the man widely regarded as "the conscience of the Senate." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vbf49kzWFw I would love to erase the last 6 years but at any rate, I really think Al Gore can win. Here's a video that always puts a smile on my face, SNL: If Al Gore were President http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/05/14.html#a8280

Funny. :)

(I was joking about anyone getting whacked of course)

I am gonna use that as a visualization tool.

It is just too vague and does not sound like something he would say. And basically it leads people to believe that all he is now doing IS just a ruse to lead up to this, and to me, that demeans his character and sincerity about what he is doing. But then, the people who write and circulate this pablum don't really care about that as long as they can get attention.

There's only four months between then and Iowa.

Not enough time to fundraise and campaign.

This is kind of a silly story, as articles based on anonymous sources usually are. That "Democratic insider" is probably a figment of the author's imagination when he was thinking of what to write this week.

Al Gore can create the excitement among activists that can raise large amounts of money from small donors. I know I'd donate and work for him--even though my support appears to be the kiss of death for any candidate. He can also count on tons of free media from a press that by this time will be looking for anything new.

By this time voters too will have seen more of the other candidates than they can stand. He has a chance to come in and create excitement.

He could also have, potentially, not only an Academy Award but a Nobel Peace Prize sitting on his mantlepiece making him an international hero. The Nobel is usually announced in the Fall. I'm not saying that he's going to win either award but the potential is certainly there.

Some people in the Democratic Party may not like this late announcement (read Hillary Clinton) but as far as I know anyone can get into the race at any time and I'm sure his good buddy, Chairman Dean, would be happy to enforce this tradition.

I'm not saying it's going to happen but the scenario could work. On the other hand, if Democrats are indeed happy with their choices, Gore can continue doing what he's doing which is merely attempting to save the world.

Big Al can just chill out and watch the show.

But he cannot win an Oscar. Only the director and producer of the film can be awarded. Gore is neither.

"What is giving Mr. Gore pause—other than the public-relations imperative that he appear reluctant to run—is the matter of legacy. Any decision to run for President must be balanced with the risk of being branded, for all of history, as a two-time loser. Adding to the potential for indignity, it’s entirely possible that defeat for Mr. Gore could come in his own party’s primaries—and not the general election. If Mr. Edwards and, in particular, Mr. Obama make significant headway in the months ahead, Mr. Gore, for all his desire to run, could just as easily balk at the idea of jumping into a crowded and muddled Democratic field."

Personally, I think he wants to run, but I wonder if the early intensity of this battle has taken him by surprise. September is way too late if you want the best possible result in Iowa, especially when you have three top-tier candidates that are sucking up money and endorsements starting late last year. Assuming that neither Obama nor Clinton nor Edwards will catch on is not a strategy. Forget the rock concerts in July and the losing weight thing. He should jump right in after the Academy Awards if he's serious. Waiting until September makes him look overly calculating, to cite an old Gore caricature. Coming out early against the Iraq war and filming An Inconvenient Truth was ballsy. Waiting for September to make a decision whether to run with the hope that others stumble before you isn't exactly gutsy.

It must be tough to be Al.

He's got my vote if he jumps in, though, for sure.

First of all: let me say that Al Gore is the best qualified person for the job, in terms of his experience, knowledge, intelligence and judgement.

As to the question of whether he will run -- I think Al Gore is keeping his options open right now, watching how the "pre-season" goes. I don't think he yet knows what he will do.

There is no hurry for Gore to enter the race for 2008. He is doing a great job raising public awareness about the climate crisis (he spoke to 10 000 people in Boise last month!). He will testify at a US Congressional Hearing in Washington on March 21st. Hopefully he might even get on stage at the Oscar ceremony on Feb 25th! :)

Gore is also busy working on his next book "The Assault on Reason" - to be published in May. The theme of this book - why we need better decision-making in government - is very timely (whether he runs or not).

Depending on how things pan out, and the reaction to his book, Gore can consider his situation over the summer and announce his decision (or if you prefer - "change his mind") sometime in the fall.

Don't forget that Bill Clinton did not kick-off his campaign until October 1991. But Al Gore already has nationwide respect and name recognition that other wannabees can only wish for! :)

Unless and until Gore endorses another candidate, we have to assume that he is keeping his options open. So it is too soon for those of us who prefer Gore to switch our allegiance.

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 websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)

:kick:

If you read the article, there is an un-named source which provides the basis for the story.

"According to one influential Democratic insider, close associates of the former Vice President have communicated to him and other prominent fund-raisers who are uncommitted to the other ’08 candidates that Mr. Gore will consider entering the race — if an opening presents itself — in September."

RestoreGore - I can see that it would be a major personal disappointment to you if Al Gore would enter the race, get the nomination and win the Presidency. If only because it would mean that you would be even more widely mocked here on DU. Although you seem to be not the kind of person who cares what the rest of us think. So I'm sure that when Al finally gets inaugurated, you will find a way to get over it. :)

And you once again are showing your ignorance. When HE states something should he even do so, I will believe it. Until then, speculation posted here by political operatives with other motives just to solicit signatures for a petition is junk to me.

I think Al Gore will run. I think Al Gore will win big time!!!!!!!!!

Again, it lists no names, they are not his words, there is no basis in fact to them, therefore I think it is diversionary junk. But sure, you can sit here all day "speculating." And gee, it's just so much fun!

and attacking anyone who DARES to talk about a possible
Gore run. For being so concerned about the environment
you sure don't talk about solutions. You think only Al
Gore can do that. Of the candidates who have announced,
who do you think will step in and make huge changes to
policy? Who has championed the environment like Gore and
has discussed solutions?

Frankly, Al Gore is the best person to be in this leadership position.

As do I.

I almost feel sorry for the folks in Iowa and New Hampshire, facing a whole year of this.

After Edwards launched his campaign, I guess Hillary and Obama felt pressured to jump in.

Al Gore is possibly the strongest candidate the Democrats could possibly run right now.

Think about it. Right now, every Pres. candidate is at each other's throat. While that's going on, Al is in the back ground. Let them fight it out and Gore will come off clean. Plus, even if he did announce in Sept., he'll still get a boat load of money. I can almost bet he can make $100 million just off his web site donations.

When was a presidential campaign ever started so early? I'm personally turned off by the current candidates because they are all in my face way too soon. I really am not looking forward to a long campaign. Everyone is going to try and talk the issues to death and no one will really end up talking about anything useful. Everything will be picked apart and Al Gore's beige tones issue will look wonderful and exciting in comparison. MSM is just interested in the horse race. Dull, dull, dull! Not to mention meaningless. Since when are the rules defined by the media? We have people repeating them here: Oh, all the operatives and money will be gone by then! So? Raise money on the internet. Al has alot of money of his own now as well. Not to mention all the people who attend his demonstrations on climate change. They will contribute money too. And as far as the consultants and operatives go, have any of these same tired recycled people really helped in the past? Get fresh new people along with your very close friends and you will be fine. A great candidate will trust their own instincts the most anyways and since when is Al inexperienced enough to worry? I hope he does run and shocks everyone in the process. We really need a change in the way campaigns are run.

I believe the primary reason, candidates are pressured to announce so early and begin running, is the mass corporate media's own self interest, it has nothing to do with the American People not having the time to determine a candidate's qualifications or stance on the issues. And what does the mass corporate media report on almost two years before an election?, mostly horse race B.S. But they make money doing it, and to them it's like advertising Christmas after Labor Day.

by September. This is a perfect time for Al Gore to get in, and I really hope he does. The "frontrunners" leave me cold.