But he's still skipping the Democratic National Convention.
Former Vice President Al Gore (D) served under President Bill Clinton.
Former Vice President Al Gore (D) served under President Bill Clinton.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Former Vice President Al Gore (D) endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Monday.

The climate change activist was one of few high-profile Democrats who had not backed the former secretary of state ― and his silence was particularly notable given that Gore was vice president to Clinton’s husband, President Bill Clinton.

Gore, who made an unsuccessful bid for president in 2000, is skipping the Democratic National Convention this week. But he voiced his support for Clinton in a series of tweets.

Gore held out on endorsing for months. He told People Magazine last November that it was “still too early,” and an unnamed spokesman told Politico the same month that he had “no plans to endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary.” He declined once again to endorse in May, but told NBC’s “Today” that he would back the eventual Democratic nominee.

A number of party leaders waited until early June, when Clinton secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination, to endorse her over challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). President Barack Obama endorsed Clinton in June, as did Vice President Joe Biden and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Clinton is set to officially accept her party’s nomination at the convention later this week, and Sanders endorsed her earlier this month.

Gore stayed out of the Democratic primary during Clinton’s last bid in 2008. He endorsed Obama for president after she dropped out of the race that year. Gore endorsed Democratic candidate Howard Dean in the 2004 primary.

Gore skipped the Democratic National Convention in 2012 as well.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said Al Gore ran for president in 2001. It was 2000.

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