Time Mag Cover: "How Al Gore Could Save The Democrats"

With Democrats beginning to voice fears about a long summer of two candidates sniping over electability, the name of unofficial party elder Al Gore has resurfaced. Gore was tossed around early and often as a potential nominee, complete with his own grass roots recruiting party. However, the former Vice President and Nobel laureate assiduously avoided exhortations to run.

Nevertheless, the Gore question is coming back. Joe Klein is the latest to make the case for Al Gore coming into the Democratic race in the case of a brokered convention:

"Let's say the elders of the Democratic Party decide, when the primaries end, that neither Obama nor Clinton is viable. ... All they'd have to do would be to convince a significant fraction of their superdelegate friends, maybe fewer than 100, to announce that they were taking a pass on the first ballot at the Denver convention, which would deny the 2,025 votes necessary to Obama or Clinton. What if they then approached Gore and asked him to be the nominee, for the good of the party-and suggested that he take Obama as his running mate? ... A prominent fund raiser told me, 'Gore-Obama is the ticket a lot of people wanted in the first place.'"

Meanwhile, Jason Horowitz this week tried to outline the timing of a Gore endorsement:

"If Gore were to weigh in, he would have to do so before the superdelegates begin breaking for either Obama or Clinton," said a former Gore adviser, after laying out the various scenarios that might prompt the former vice president to get involved. "The superdelegates constitute the last true contest in this race. And for many, Gore is someone they talk to, listen to, and whom a lot of them admire and respect. Having him make a closing argument for either candidate would carry significant weight with some of these last-man-standing voters."

And earlier this week, Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) suggested that Al Gore as an alternate coming out of a brokered convention:

"If it (the nomination process) goes into the convention, don't be surprised if someone different is at the top of the ticket," Mahoney said.

A compromise candidate could be someone such as former vice president Al Gore, Mahoney said last week during a meeting with this news organization's editorial board.

If either Clinton or Obama suggested to a deadlocked convention a ticket of Gore-Clinton or Gore-Obama, the Democratic Party would accept it, Mahoney said.

(Hat tip Politico)

Comments

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Could gore step in and take Hillary's place? Oh hell yes. Will he? the man was almost our president before he had it stolen from him by Bush. Playing second fiddle again would be a slap in the face to him, unless, he was promised he would be the nominee when Obamma chose to not re run. Its a long shot, Not an impossible long shot, but one none the less. As far as charisma, we don't need it, we need a leader. Our troops need a man who will be honest, not fiddle with thier autopsies, change the rules, break the laws to suit his personal agenda. Gore is a good guy, and he could do great things for us, but unless he is given the kind of power cheney has, but to do great things with, not corrupt? Second time around, I don't see it in the cards.

[UCLAdy04]

It's amazing the lengths people will go through to deny the first African American man the nomination that he has rightfully earned.

If Obama was a white man or hell even if Hillary had the most pledged delegates, the most states won, the lead in the popular vote by a margin of 700,000, people would be asking for Obama's head on the platter. But since he IS ahead in the popular vote, ahead in pledged delegates, ahead in total delegates, ahead in states won now the Democratic Party suddenly needs a "compromise candidate".

Whatever happened to just following the damn rules?

Millions of people voted for both Clinton and Obama with MORE voting for Obama...and someone seriously believes that selecting Gore as the nominee is a compromise? Why is this even being entertained as a rational thought? Hell I could live with Clinton (who I despise and would never vote for) over Gore because at least it gives some small semblance of Democracy...but to select a person who hasn't busted their ass for the past year proving that they are the right candidate for their country is disgraceful and totally unacceptable.

[nazgul]

He can save the Party by endorsing Obama and telling Hillary to be a good sport for once.

[BlondieM]

RIGHT

[Docrob]

Hillary will be a good sport. If she does not get the nomination she will campaign Obama. She will give a nomination speech--anything she is asked to do. Why do I know that? Because she is a Democrat and will work hard to elect a Democrat. Can you say the same about Obama.

[wisechild]

Yes, of course. Why do you supporters of Hillary seem so determined that Obama is an enemy.

He has run a much more above board and gracious campaign.

As for her being a Democrat, where's the proof? She is creating a riff for no reason other than stubborn ego.

I'm not saying she shouold drop out but she needs to be more gracious and transparent.

She's almost got me considering McCain if she wins...

[AxelDC]

Al Gore can save the Democrats by endorsing Obama. He gave up his chance to be the nominee. I would have voted for him had he run, but he cede that right.

To select anyone but the nominee with the most delegates means that the Democratic Party is not democratic at all. If Gore wants to save the party, endorse Obama and help him defeat her in PA and it will all be over in less than a month.

[DesertLight]

Wait, I thought Obama was the Savior? Did I not get the memo?

[Ratel]

I tend to agree, I wanted Goreobama at the beginning too. but the the unprecendented interest in voting in this primary people may feel insulted if the eventual candidate wasn't on any of the tickets in the first place. If he comes out now, or right after an unimpressive pensylavania primary for hillary then that will help.

I don't know if he'd want to be vice again, but obama should consider creating a new Homeland Security like department for dealing with the environment, roll the EPA into that and let Gore fix it all.

[eepatt]

I agree with AxelDC. I would have backed Al Gore with money and volunteer work, but he did not choose to go through all the crap that the right wing slander machine would throw at him. He can do the most good for the country and the planet by endorsing Obama and getting Hillary to admit that it is indeed over. He would make an excellent VP or EPA secretary.

If you ever want to have a good cry, just think about how our world would have been different if Gore had not been screwed out of his rightfully elected presidency by Rove, Bush and the supreme court.

[BlondieM]

Wow Even righter!

[iPolitics]

Dumb. Gore has zero delegates. Obama gets to pick his pledged delegates as does Hillary. Duh

[Libsrule]

I asked this earlier and I'll ask again:

The thing that is funny reading the comments here is the pure hatred voiced by more Clinton supporters than Obama supporters, BUT what I don't understand from either supporter is what do we do if there is no actual nominee?

What happens if there are constant votes and neither one gets the amount needed?

Do we say, well Obama has 5 percent more so he gets it?

Or Hillary has more superdelegates by 8 so she gets it?

What happens then, we look like fucking morons to the rest of the country and John McBush walks off with the election.

So tell us oh angry ones, WHAT DO WE DO if neither candidate can muster enough votes?

That's all I want to know. And simply saying it should go to "MY CANDIDATE" doesn't cut it. There are elections to be won and this non stop fighting is making us all look like idiots. Gore wouldn't accept the nomination UNLESS both Clinton and Obama accepted that neither one can get the needed votes.

So what do we do?

[whoopi]

And now other people are asking for an Obama / Bloomberg ticket. If that doesn't get Obama assassinated, I don't know what will.

While I have been going back and forth on this, this page in and of itself has made my decision.
I'm voting for Nader. I have a conscience to answer to. For those that claim it is a waste, how can doing the right thing be a waste?

And if McCain will win, so be it, let him deal with the economy. If Obama has to deal with the economy, with the reduced power base after his behavior in this primary, he will be shot down like Carter (except with his seemingly insatiable political appetite, it will be without the Nobel prize)

[whoopi]

Is it no wonder that Gore, who is probably the best actual choice other than Nader, has no intention to run? IT is a testament to his unending support and dedication to this country that he didn't just walk away and tell everyone to kiss it on his way out. Faced with what can only be described as an utter failure of democracy, and the complete success of idiocracy, I cannot fathom why he still bothers.

Instead, and I have absolutely no problem with Obama, you are all rallying behind someone that has the least chance of winning, (due to the disproportionate influence the minority in the middle states have on this country - and the FACT that many of them would sell their first born rather than vote for a black man) but more importantly, even if he squeaks by, will have every republican, and half the democrats gunning for him once he takes office. Based upon his, and his supporters crucifixion of the Clintons (who will long be far more powerful than he could ever hope to be), he will not have the full support of even the Democrats once he takes office. Like it or not, he will not be able to accomplish a fraction of what Hillary could.

Why must we destroy one in order to support the other? If Obama wasn't running 90% of his supporters would be rallying behind Hillary. They would be clamoring for the historical import that the first woman president will

[whoopi]

If I didn't know any better, I would swear this is a GOP board!

Since when did Hillary ever do anything to the liberal and progressive base to deserve this treatment? Even if you support Obama, let us not forget that Hillary and yes, even Bill, have done nothing to destroy this country, (and therefore nothing to deserve this abuse), especially when contrasted with our current dictator-in-chief.

And then you go and attack Gore? A man who has not even run, spouting the Republican dogma that he is boring and therefore not worth electing? Do you idiots have any recollection of what happened the last time the country voted for someone because they wanted to hang out and have a beer with him?

Think people!

This is not a homecoming dance, and we should be looking at who has the best qualifications, the best chance of winning, and the best chance to accomplish things once they are elected. Instead we are again focused on a popularity contest. What is wrong with you people? Hasn't the focus on form over substance done enough harm to this country over the last 7 years?

I expected so much more from Huffingtonians.

[Burkelbile]

I've had enough. I will not stand for McCain winning by default.

DRAFT GORE AT THE CONVENTION


Hillary has proven she is an obsessed, divisive, flawed liar, not to mention it is PROVEN IMPOSSIBLE for her to accumulate enough votes / delegates.
The party will NEVER sit still for or support "superdelegates" picking her when she has no majority of votes or delegates.

If the kids can't learn to play nice like adults (and you KNOW they won't before Pennsylvania / NC) and stop throwing mudpies,

and if Obama can't pull away and unite the party,

we DRAFT GORE at the convention and give either Obama or Richardon the VP spot.

Are you LISTENING, Hillary and Obama?
(especially Hillary)

[opie]

I think Gore's entry to race would do only one certain thing: throw the Republicans off their game.

I am not so sure Gore would be a healer and I am even more confident Obama would refuse to play second fiddle.

And if I were Gore, I'd stay out of it. Nobody in his right mind really wants to be the guy who has to clean up Bush's 8 yr long mess. It will be a thankless job and bound to sully anybody's reputation for trying it. IN this way, I think having a totally Dem Congress with ubeatable majorities and a dopey Republican president like McCain might be good come-uppance for the Republicans. (The Supreme Court being the only problem with that idea unless the Congress got really active and re-wrote some law the Supremes could not handle.)

[eugenegerard]

It's nice to fantasize. The Clintons out and two grown ups running for the presidency.

[btj2]

Replacing two candidates who weren't able to get enough votes with someone who got approximately zero votes will solve absolutely nothing.

I can't imagine that anyone in a position of authority is seriously discussing this option, which makes me wonder about the qualifications for being a pundit in this day and age. I didn't realize that the fields of creative writing and punditry had become so closely intertwined.

[Ramirez]

Only Al Gore can unite the party and save the election from the Republican juggernaut.

Gore/Edwards!
Integrity, Experience, and a Proven Commitment to Global Good Will

[DesertLight]

And God Bless both America's. Those who live in 29,000 sq. ft. houses and those who don't. Amen pass the Kool-Aid.

[treadway123]

Bull Crap he's to scared to stand up and be counted in this mess! Ain't even got the guts to say enough is enough and tell Hillary it's over alll ready and stop destroying the party! Ya, we can realllly count on Gore-----------Like we can count on Howard Dean to take a stand!

[ornery]

Pulling our leg again?

That would have worked better in 2000 than Gore Lieberman for sure.

[Nommo]

Al Gore. Someone who'll take a stand at some point in the future. On something, even!