Frequently Asked Questions

Will Al Gore run in 2008? Why can’t you guys take “no” for an answer?

Because he never said “no.” Until and unless he does, the door is wide open.

We have no inside information about Al Gore’s plans and cannot guarantee he’ll run. But over the past year Gore has consistently refused to rule out a candidacy in every statement on the subject, which indicates he is seriously considering running. Contrary to media reports, he never said he won't run -- only that he has “no plans” to run right now. In fact he stated that he may reenter politics at some point and that he will not make a definitive Shermanesque statement about 2008.

We take Al Gore at his word that he has not made a final decision. We trust that when he does, he will make an announcement, either way. Considering his lifelong dedication to service and understanding of the crises we currently face, we believe he’ll answer the call to service and run.


Isn’t it too late for him to throw his hat into the ring?

Gore still has plenty of time to enter the race, given his universal name recognition, army of supporters nationwide, and wide base of donor support. Few candidates have the luxury of waiting so long. He does.

The minute he would announce his candidacy, his poll numbers would shoot through the roof and the excitement, we believe, would carry him to victory.

What are the goals of Draft Gore?

(1) We hope to demonstrate to Al Gore the groundswell of support he enjoys among the grassroots;
(2) We’ll try to present him with an action-ready army of supporters in all critical states so he can hit the ground running should he declare his candidacy;
(3) We hope to persuade him that it's a moral imperative that he run in 2008.

Al Gore is being called back by popular demand and we're giving a voice to that demand.

Why draft a candidate who doesn’t seem interested?

Because that’s precisely what drafts do: try to nominate or change the mind of a reluctant candidate. There is no other reason for a draft. We’re here not because he’s running or because this is easy. We mounted this effort because we believe we’re at a crucial crossroads in American history and Al Gore, more than anyone else, can win back the White House, put our country back on track, and restore America’s good name in the world.

Has a “reluctant candidate” ever been successfully drafted?

Yes. It hasn’t happened in recent years, which makes this particular movement historic. But many times in American history a candidate who protested mightily that he will not run ended up as his party’s nominee — or even president. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Barry Goldwater are the most recent examples. True, it’s more difficult with today’s rules and political climate, and that’s why we’re not trying to run a substitute campaign but instead persuade Gore that he run by his own will before the primary season gets underway.

Do you communicate with Vice President Gore or his office?

No. We deliberately want to stay independent and run a grassroots campaign. Our effort is not backed or funded by anyone connected to Mr. Gore. Our movement is a spontaneous outpouring of support among people of all political persuasions at the grassroots level.

Is Al Gore aware of your efforts and if so, what’s his response?

He left the door open to a candidacy. That’s the best response we can hope for.

Yes, Mr. Gore is aware of Draft Gore’s efforts. Our members have talked with him informally at various events, such as book signings or lectures, and he’s been very gracious to them. We also formally delivered our petition to his office in Nashville when it reached 100,000 signatures in July. And we occasionally talk to former aides who most likely inform him of our activities.

At no time has he encouraged our efforts in any way, but he has also consistently declined to object, comment, or stop us. That in itself is a response.

Most polls show Hillary Clinton in the lead. What chance would Gore have to win the nomination?

His odds would be excellent. Recent polls in New Hampshire and Michigan put him squarely in the lead. He doesn’t do so well in polls where people are not asked to consider the possibility that Gore may run, so they assume he won’t. That would change overnight if he were to become a candidate. See more on this in our Polling section.

Most importantly, Gore’s support is very deep among the most active voters — those most likely to vote in the primaries. They know him, support him, and understand that he’s the most electable Democrat.

What are your odds of success? How will you change Al Gore’s mind when powerful politicians could not?

We believe that Al Gore is a patriot and a populist, and is thus more likely to respond to a genuine show of support from the grassroots than requests from Washington insiders.

We know we're fighting against difficult odds. But so are many of the declared candidates. And history tells us that no big or significant movement ever started with good odds.

What we have going for us is that we have the perfect “reluctant candidate.” We don't need to sell Al Gore to the voters. They know and support him already. We only need to persuade them that it’s up to them to still have an impact on this election.

We don’t underestimate the challenge we undertook. But as as Margaret Mead said,

"Never underestimate what a small group of committed people can do to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

We've passed that date, of course, and each day his chances get slimmer and slimmer. As far as the second question in this FAQ, when would you consider it too late for him to run?

My hopes are fading but it's still there.

My mid-October deadline was just my own thoughts on how long Gore could wait before getting in.