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

[mix2007]

Obama has won. We want the winner we voted for, not someone decided by party bosses.

[ginnypoo]

The voting is not over....you think the other 10 votes shouldn't happen? How undemocratic of you.....now go join the repugs, those are the people that try to stop dems from speaking out, NOT dems, so take your traitorous ta k and reregister now...the repugs need all the closed minded self serving idjits they can get this year...and with that attitude it will be gratifying when you lose in the fall.

[MoeGreen]

When the Dolphins trail the Patriots by 5 TDs in the 4th Quarter it's not over... but the Dolphins can't win.

I really think that the Republicans can be left out of this argument. They have recognized long ago that the Democrat's worst enemy of all is the Democrat. All the Republicans have to do is sit back with a corn dog and a coke and watch the show.

[rmetz74]

Wow, logic overboard! Remember, in the vast majority of primaries, the nomination is sealed before the majority of the country votes (hence all the states wanting early primaries.) The rest of the primaries still happen, as they are now for the Republicans, even though McCain already has the nomination. No one is suggesting the remaining primaries should be stopped.

[YellerDawg]

ObamaNation is all for letting the people speak, as long as the people agree that Obama is the anointed golden child. No other opinions welcome, thank you.

[clbrune]

When did he reach 2,025 delegates?

Oh right. He can't win on his own.

[drjasonmd]

You mean he can't loose without Hillary striking a backroom deal to overturn the will of the electorate.

[obamagramma]

Yes absolutely! I think the democratic party has to insist on a leader that GOT AT LEAST SOME PRIMARY VOTES !!!

[ndem]

Please for the sake of the country do not let that boring as hell man run for anything ever again. They gave him a Nobel now let him go away! Ugh!
From a die hard real Democrat

[AlieNation]

How About an Obama-Gore Ticket?
Since leaving office Mr. Gore has done some serious self-analysis and has come to the conclusion that the daily rigors of the presidency are just not suited to his personality. Al Gore is at heart a gregarious intellectual who enjoys life. Dealing with bi-partisan bickering, manipulating the bureaucratic labyrinth, and addressing every new crises is not the way Al Gore wants to spend his days.
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are leaving us a failing war and a failing economy and making the prospects of success for the next president almost insurmountable. As far as Al Gore is concerned, who needs it?
But Vice-President you say. Why would he want a job he has already held before? Simply, it is the perfect platform from which to speak to the world about the looming global environmental crises.
Imagine if Al Gore could reach an agreement with Barack Obama that would allow Mr. Gore almost free reign as Vice-President to develop U.S. global warming policies, to be in charge of U.S. energy policies, to initiate legislation promoting alternative energy and new technology projects, to be the spokesman for the U.S. on international treaties for environmental issues, to have the full faith and credit of the United States to pursue his passion. This is Al Gore’s dream job.
And yes, Mr. Obama would have the most respected political figure in the United States at his side…what a winning ticket!

[ornery]

We are a party of two. I said the same thing at lunchtime.

But it is above & beyond the call of duty.

Almost cruel & unusual punishment.

If Obama asked, would he???

That's a ticket the whole Democratic Party could fall in love all over with.

[TheOpinionGuy]

This is a terrible idea.

If senior Dems actually think that the electorate will rally around Gore, they are idiots.

Gore does not have the charisma to pull it off.

I wouldn't vote for Gore this time around.

Different time. Different place.

World. Needs. Change.

[ginnypoo]

Obama will change us into the 60s and race wars.....that's some change you got there....keep it, I'd rather look to improving the country, it's a darn good country and just needs some new drive and a President that gives us something to do to help....this one told us to shop, creating a credit crisis, so repugs are out as a choice, and Obama and his racist quadmire is too messy and divisive to go near.....Obama is a change to the past. Obama is trying to change the past, not the future, he wants to muddy the issues with race issues instead of talking specifics....nice high- minded philosophy on economics today, no actual plan though....sad what some will settle for......just words.

[rmetz74]

We get it. You don't like Obama. That's fine. But your reasoning is nonsense.

[PatrickWalker]

Race war? Hardly, but with advisors like Samantha Power, the US could be in for a lot more military interventions around the globe. I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but Obama is just like JFK and that's *NOT* a good thing. JFK was pro-business, pro-tax cut, never met a weapon system he didn't like, a dictator he didn't like, supported tyrannical regimes including South Vietnam and Haiti, allowed the oil companies to finally and deeply dig their nails into US foreign policy, and was just a general war monger.

If Obama were actually a TRUE leftwing radical as he and his followers profess himself to be, he would reject the JFK comparisson. The only thing that rehabilitated his image is that someone a) finally shot him 3 years too late, and b) he was the first non-Protestant.

The Myth of JFK is one of the biggest blights on US politics.

[wisechild]

blah, blah, blah...

Where do you draw your conclusions from? Faux News?

Simply do not believe some of your statements...if you want the plan, read the website.

bitter...

[hershy]

Gore doesn't need to endorse anybody. He (and others) need to come forward with this mantra...

Focus on November. For the sake of the party, for the sake of the country, for the sake of the courts:

Somebody needs to step down.

[clbrune]

Tell Obama ;-)

[research]

I like Gore, but he earned his "Bore" nickname. He lacks charisma.

We want a "great communicator" like Obama, if we want to win and change things.

[ballewb]

What's this "we" stuff? Speak for yourself.

[SLone08]

Research was talking about the millions of us who are voting for Obama.

[research]

Me and my friends, "We" want Obama.

[ballewb]

It's an interesting possibilty. I wanted Gore to run before the primary season began. I don't know what the effects would be of a brokered convention that produces a ticket headed by someone who did not even run. I can see how there might be some problems with it though. Not least of all, from this sight alone I can see some BO and HC supporters pooping themselves with self-righteous disgust and turning on Gore with the same ire they have used on each other.

[BobC46]

Gore is a slimey snake oil salesman. He is a looser. He even lost his own state in 2000.

[ballewb]

Insightful, well reasoned, and generously supported by facts. Great job.

[wm1066]

Ya, I guess that Nobel prize and the Oscar aren't worth anything are they?

[clbrune]

I love it when people calling someone a "loser" can't even spell it right.

That's like saying, "Man, U are so dumm!"

[KPinSEA]

Don't do it Al, you're clearly so much happier in your current role as ombudsman for Earth than you were in elective office or pursuit of elective office.

And let's face it, you're much better at being a spokesperson than you are at being a candidate.

[UNCLEJOE]

WHY EDWARDS AND GORE WAIT TO ENDORSE:
Democratic leaders like Gore and Edwards will endorse Obama , only when they can demonstrate that their endorsement was cruciaal in pushing Obama over the top; that will give them higher political status in the party, and obligate President Obama to give them important cabinet posts. Pelosi has already strongly implied choice for Obama because she does not need another job.
Richardson's commitment I feel was a noble choice without any deals. And he is the VP that can pull in the Latino voters away from Clinton in a nano second in the General Elections. I hope the dude speaks Mexican.

[QueenofSheba]

Your hope is realized - Richardson speaks Spanish. "Mexican" is not a language.

[Arouet]

I have voted for Gore and would do so again. It's a sensible compromise. The last thing we need is to elect Bomb Bomb McCain because in our arrogance we gambled that the country would overlook race.

It might have, but Barack has proven a huge disappointment on the critical "post racial" front, what with his Black Power preacher and his snippy spouse injecting loads of unhealthy "attitude" into his candidacy. Patriot John and Pretty Cindy will crush them in the fall among Whites, Asians and yes Hispanics. Barack though will get 90 % of Blacks and English majors.

Hillary can beat McCain, but will all the Obamabots give her the chance?

[UCLAdy04]

Hillary supporters CONSISTENTLY say something ignorant and stupid. it amazes me...I try and read the entire post...and it never fails, before it is over, there is a remarkably ignorant statement. Your post is entirely divorced from reality, but you would have to have that talent to be a Hillary supporter at this stage in the process. And please spare me the "when I read comments like this it makes me not want to support Obama" because it only makes you look that much more idiotic.

[NickOhio]

Gore does not wish to be President. He has better things to do with his life. He was Veep, then had his chance to win, but was robbed. Sure, he could have done better in 2000, but he was blind-sided by the Rove machine. He could have asked Clinton for help, but I am sure he had lost some faith in his boss by that time.

Gore is the most respectable man in the Dem Party who is no longer in politics, along with Carter. Gore will probably be the deciding factor at some point in time, but he won't be able to speak with the Clinton camp to cool them down, given their past history. The Clintons are a party of their own, these days. Expect Gore to side with Obama, with the only question being "WHEN?".

[dezzertguy]

Wow, what a sad party when Carter and Gore are the most respectable members. That certainly sets a low standard. No wonder the party is imploding. I think it is telling that there is no JFK, Johnson or Scoop Jackson that can get the party together.

[ballewb]

Yeah, two winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, now that's a sad legacy.

[sociocanuck]

I frankly, don't quite understand the objection to Gore downthread based soley on the idea that he'd lose - because he didn't actually lose the first time, and that was before biuilding his reputation re: the environment. There are other reasons to object (like overshadowing the historic candidates with another white guy). His ability to win ought not be the question, because honestly, if Hilllary and Obama weren't in the picture, I'm sure MANY people would be quite happy to see Gore step up...

Though without the fight, there'd be no reason to call on Gore to jeapordize his current reputation as something more than your average politician, and we'd all be looking forward to president Edwards.

[REAGANRIGHT]

USING ELECTION LAWS OF THE TIME GORE REALY LOST. YES HE LOST. GET OVER IT. AS FOR HES REPUTATION... HIS GLOBAL WARMING HAOX WILL BE REVIELED AS TIME PASSES.

[ballewb]

I think you mean to say using the Supreme Court composition at the time, Gore lost. The difference in votes was around 500, which automatically triggered recounts by Florida law. So, teh recounts and the wrangling began. If I remember correctly, eventually, the SCOTUS decided the method of the recount was unconstitutional and ordered the recounts stopped. Katherine Harris, Florida Sec. of State, certified the original election results and there was no joy in Mudville.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Your screen name tells us everything we need to know about you, pal and your spelling is an example of how ignorant most of your ilk (George W Bush - our first "C" average President) are.

As far as "get(ing) over it", we will NEVER get over it. Our country was stolen by evil people and anyone who can "get over it" is not much of an American in my eyes.

Now, to the issue at hand. I love Al Gore and if he had announced a year ago I would have been his staunchest supporter. If he had entered the race as recently as a few months ago, I would have similarly supported him. But now, we DO have a winner and to insinuate that anyone could, would or should somehow take this from him is insulting to a lot of Obama supporters and would turn African American voters away in droves.

[DesertLight]

Dude, can the caps already would you or get a pair of bifocals.

[QueenofSheba]

How do you know Gore lost? The recount wasn't complete when the Supreme Court decided the election. By the way - learn to spell.

[ruscle]

More wishful thinking. Similar in tone to floating the Clinton/Obama ticket idea. This one won't fly.

[rwe]

He is gong to be on 60 minutes ( yes the one with the credibility of Dan Rather) espousing on his cult of globalphobia..... If he is running with Barack we will be subjected to two cults.

[Kenji]

Globalphobia? You mean, just like the way Jane Goodall hates chimps?

[rwe]

Oh Kenji.... Phobia means fear not hate, but then again that is the lib mantra.... No , Al and the rest who now call Global warming climate change (like hope and change) are terrified that the planet will disintegrate , and credit humans with causing it....

[ballewb]

Lay off Dan Rather, please. I'm sure you've made mistakes, but without the unfortunate addition of a national audience and Presidential attack corps. It is unreasonable, to me, to continue to slander a person based on one act such as his. I cannot so easily overlook 40 years of journalistic work. Neither can I overlook the fairly obvious neglect of military service commited by President Bush during the Vietnam war.

[Silknspark]

rwe,
You nailed it!
Hope there's more like you out there.
Thank YOU!