Al Gore Is In.
Let's stipulate that Al Gore is In.
Hold on. I'm not saying that I know Mr. Gore will formally enter the presidential race. Matter of fact, I doubt it. But that's a technicality. If the Democratic primary field moves when he talks -- and they do -- then why pretend that he's not already influencing the process? He's in until he's out.
Gore has no formal power over the candidates running for Democratic presidential nomination, but his informal power -- his ability to power its storylines -- is tremendous. The moment he says he's 100% out and will under no circumstances run for president -- then he'll have no power. Nothing formal -- no imperium.
Gore has given the verb "plan" a strenuous and deliberate work out. He is an intelligent, politically savvy guy. . He knows very well what "plan" or "plans" -- as in "I have no plan to run again" sounds like to other candidates. He very much enjoys the second order benefits that such speculation provide for his first order concern, which is, of course, global warming.
The theory, here, is that Gore won't run, and that he won't say he won't run because if he does, he'll have fewer resources to (a) fight global warming (b) be seen as the public spokesman for the forces arrayed against global climate change (c) see his policy speeches make a difference (d) maintain his identity as the hyung -- the respected older brother -- of the Democratic Party.
The crush of reporters on Capitol Hill today are also dutifully playing their parts. They'll point out how the hunger for Al Gore reflects a lack of enthusiasm over Hillary Clinton (not really true, but it is hard to disprove empirically), that Gore would bring both excitement and substance to the Democratic ticket (take that, Obama), that Gore remains a polarizing figure (which is a positive attribute to some Democratic primary voters), that Gore could wait several months before he announces (true), that Gore has re-engineered his public image after the '00 election (true), that Gore is far more popular among regular Americans than the man he beat and lost to seven years ago... etc.
Most of Gore's friends do not believe he will run. They say that he has no appetite for the crap that real candidates withstand. He's been there and really doesn't want to do that again.
A close Gore friend tells me that he and Tipper Gore were addled by the national press's obsession with his large house and its energy use.
Gore exclaimed to this friend :"Why would I want to go back to that?"
There is no evidence whatsoever that Gore is asking fundraisers to keep their pockets full for him. He stays in touch with old friends -- like State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro in New Hampshire -- but they don't chat about politics, and D'Allesandro may soon endorse someone else. Several senior Gore aides from his campaigns and White House staff have asked him directly whether they should wait for him. Gore says no.
All this really tells me is that if Gore runs, it'll be a very untraditional campaign. [MARC AMBINDER]
So who will run the most untraditional campaign, Gore or Newt?
I wish Al Gore would run in 2008!
He's all we have. Run, Al.
Great post, Marc. Summed up all the things I was thinking but couldn't put as articulately, and some angles I hadn't thought of.
The tidbit at the end is the most telling - spur of the moment comments like that reveal more of the person's interior world than hours of carefully parsed PR statements. And it really is his interior world that will ultimately have him running or not ("not" in this case, I believe).
Not to mention that the proposals he's laying out in front of Congress relating to Global warming are the kind of take no prisoners / spare no special interest ideas that he'd NEVER be pushing if he was preparing to run. No way he runs in 2008.
Gore is the best choice for president.
Fred Thompson for President.
He is without a doubt the most qualified, experienced, and solid candidate the Dems have. He's also the only person who could beat Shrillary. RUN AL RUN!
I posted on this a while back --
Here's how the Gore campaign will roll out.
Loved the comment about hyung - respected older brother. It captures a turn in the political zeitgeist; where before one wanted a "respected elder statesman" (e.g., James Baker), now one wants someone with more connection and personal knowledge of both you and the situation. And isn't that the perfect position that Slide-Show Al was projecting (especially with all the family farm and family tragedy references) in AIT? Hmm, hmm, [applause] . . . . hmm.
Kind of puts Joe Biden and John McCain in perspective, doesn't it?
I don't care if he is planning to run right now or not. When he sees the possibility of Hillary securing the nomination, I think he'll feel obligated to take the nomination from her and to become our next President. And thank god for that.
Just out of curiosity, what led you to refer to Gore as "hyung"? Have you perhaps lived in Korea, or had some other occasion to learn Korean?
Here's the speech Gore should give when he announces ...
I doubt he'll run, but I do think he'd get a tsunami of Democratic backing if he decided to get into the race. I've never seen such authentic, grassroots support for an undeclared candidate. Americans know that Gore is a leader and we're very ready to have some real leadership.
Gore could avoid a long, drawn-out campaign if a strong grassroots draft effort emerged.
Increase those chances by signing the petition on Draftgore.com urging him to run. We have over 60,000 signatures already!
Andrea Ronhovde
Draft Gore PAC
Wow, I guess the real burning question for all of us is, if Al Gore enters the race, what will the impact be on the Biden, Dodd, and Kucinich campaigns.
Those three are balls o' fire and just waiting to leapfrog non-former baseballer Bill Richardson.
Yup, these are the questions, these are the biggies.
Those close to Al Gore say he is not running for president.
Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider makes it pretty clear: Gore hasn't refused to ever enter the race. But, Kreider said, "He truly has no intention of running."
Gore obfuscates the issue, denying that he has plans to run, while also giving supporters hope that he might be persuaded to run.
We need Gore, because Hillary will not be good for this country.