Gore Endorsement Rumor Kicking Around Clinton Campaign

A well-placed spouse of a Clinton campaign insider just told me that a rumor is spreading like wild fire that Al Gore is going to endorse Barack Obama.

My source emphasizes that this is rumor and may just be paranoia and hyperventilation of the campaign, but it's important to know that this rumor is out there. Another source of mine inside Obamaland has told me that they have been working very hard to secure Gore's public support and trying numerous avenues to "encourage" him.

Frankly, I'm surprised that Gore would do this now -- despite his clear disaffection for the Clintons. He is the undisputed king of the climate change franchise now, but even kingdoms can be assaulted, undermined, outfoxed, circumvented, ridiculed, and starved.

If Hillary Clinton wins this tight race -- which she may still do -- then Gore is gambling with his own status as a climate-change first-and-only transcendant politician.

It will be interesting to see what happens, and of course if Barack Obama wins the primary and then the presidency, Al Gore will get significant credit. The problem is that that can work the other way too.

Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[stageplay]

I think Gore has the wisdom to know that if he endorses Hillary Clinton, he will be giving John McCain the White House. Obama can beat McCain. Hillary cannot.

[melann830]

As a person who voted for Al Gore in 2000, it would be disappointing to see his endorsement go to the Obama camp given that so little is actually known about Mr. Obama's past affiliations, fraternizations and "real" accomplishments. At this point in the process, Mr. Gore would be more helpful if he would urge Obama to debate Mrs. Clinton so that once and for all we can gauge for ourselves who is truly the most prepared candidate to enter the oval office. I do not believe this to be an unreasonable request considering that our nation's safety and economy are on the line. If Mr. Gore endorses Barack Obama he is sending a clear message that "we'll give you information on a need to know basis" and this is unacceptable. This is precisely what the media has had us living with for the last five years with respect to the war in Iraq. It is unfair of the media to want ask us to vote and shy away from asking Obama the real tough questions because they are afraid of being percieved as racist. Yet on the other hand, they have no problem being percieved as chauvinistic when they antagonize Mrs. Clinton and attempt to instigate sparring between the two candidates pitting Mrs. Clinton against Obama. The only thing this has served to do is alienate voters like myself who see these transparent attempts at trying to drive Mrs. Clinton over the edge. It also urges us to strive for a Clinton/Edwards ticket, thereby shutting Mr. Obama out entirely.

[cavemandave]

dude, 18 debates so far. did you miss them?

[melann830]

Dude,

Debates in which Sen. Obama was not forced to answer the tough questions Hillary answered-and furthermore debates in which Obama was treated with kid gloves and not with the combative, devisive language used by Journalists like Wolf Blitzer during the debate in California.

[MikeP33477]

I agree 100%. Al Gore is a winner right now. He should stay that way and NOT endorse. Sen. Obama is about to experience what real vetting is all about starting this week.

[Lolalabloggera]

I hope Gore doesn't endorse Godbama. He should remain neutral so he can push his important climate change crusade through when either Clinton or Godbama wins.

[Subliminability]

And if it WERE a red herring from the Clinton campaign, Steve Clemons would be a reliable place to release it from . . .

We'll see . . .

[DemandTruth]

Gore is a dedicated Environmental Guru. But he is also a knowledgeable and experienced politician in his own right. I don't see any reason he couldn't endorse Obama AND continue his great work educating people on the serious issue of climate change at the same time. And if Obama loses, he's still the go-to-guy, and I'm sure the Clintons would reach out to him. Gore has lost before, and he's managed okay. I don't see anything wrong with him speaking his conscience and endorsing either candidate, while continuing his non-partisan work. I mean, what, is Kennedy going to resign if Obama doesn't win? An endorsement is a voice of support and preference, not the end-all-be-all of the world. Gore's work and his preference for the next president aren't mutually exclusive. Jeez!

[JoDeeVa]

I hope Al Gore remains above the fray on this one, endorsing neither. Environmentalism shouldn't be a partisan or candidate bargaining tool. Voters should consider a candidate's stand on the issue, but the candidates should not be using it as a wedge against each other, pandering for Gore's endorsement! I think the candidates history of voting records should say all that needs to be said on the issue. Friend of a friend of a "well-placed spouse of a Clinton campaign insider" who knew nothing about something that may have been passed on and is "spreading like wildfire" that may be paranoia and hyperventilation and yet, is a rumour that is important to know is out there? Jeez, I just don't get why that is important enough to give further validation to..BTW, did you hear Britney is on the loose again, rumour has it she.....

Thanks for adding grist to the rumour mill, Steve! I don't know what I would have done without this knowledge.

[wizoz]

Gore will endorse Obama. Look for it just before the Ohio primary. Gore lost because of "Clinton Fatigue". And so will Hillary.

[melann830]

Gore lost because of Lieberman-get real.

[AgathaX]

This is an era that I want to read about once everyone is talking. Al Gore isn't going to affect my vote at all, but I'm darned curious about who he will endorse, why, when he made the decision and what factors will determine when he makes a public endorsement--if he does. I want to know what others did to try to influence him and what sorts of discussions are going on behind the scenes regarding the endorsement.

Inquiring minds want to know.

[deminmo]

Mr. Gore needs to announce a run for President,
if nothing else it would make this race a lot
more interesting!

[melann830]

From your keypad to God's ears! deminmo you're brilliant.

[PKSSK]

This is a thinly veiled threat to Al Gore to prevent him from endorsing Obama. When John Kerry endorsed Obama the Clintons vehemently expressed their dissatisfaction by severing all ties with him. She will play the gender card again, the men are ganging up on me, if he does choose to endorse Obama.

The Clinton's divided the party when they established their own party, the Democratic Leadership Council. They will not stop until they divide the Nation, all in the name of POWER!

If Al Gore steps up he will be disobeying the Clinton threat and all future support from the Clinton's.

I don't know what is more dangerous, a woman who's only goal is to seek power for herself or a man and woman who seek the control and power for their own personal gain.

Sadly, the women of America have been duped all in the name of gender instead of facts and issues!!!!

[PKSSK]

We need character and integrity in the White House, we need OBAMA '08.

[melann830]

We need Obama like we need another third world nation.

[eladora]

How this works for Hillary: put the rumor out there then when there is no endorsement it makes it look like vp Gore changed his mind.
This is pure genious.

[sockman]

Oprah has quite a few favors to call in. Gore is just one of them.

[JoDeeVa]

Oh, please Sockman..
Exactly what is Gore indebted to Oprah for? I suppose next you'll be claiming that she got him the Pulitzer? Or, maybe she was the genesis for his lifelong environmental commitment? Or, maybe Oprah, at the right hand of God ordained that Gore should not be President and that's why she (allegedly, even though we're talking rumours here) voted for Bush? Or, maybe, she is God? If that's the case, she has a lot of explaining to do....the least of which is why Gore owes her anything, especially an endorsement of Obama! Not that he won't, but I seriously doubt it would be a tit-for-tat owed to Oprah.

[Lolalabloggera]

There's only one god--his name is GODBAMA

[melann830]

The Oscar Acamdemy has a bigger favor to call from him. Are you saying you endorse bullying or peddling a favor for a favor. Hmmm??? That doesn't sound like "change" to me.

[afml]

I was at the Climate Change Conference for Presidential Contenders in Los Angeles last fall sponsored by the NRDC. No Republicans showed up of course. But neither did Obama. Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich cared enough about the issue, about the environment, to show up, speak, and take questions. Edwards was inspirational, but it was clear that Clinton had been doing the legislative work and would continue to do so.

[MarkieBee]

Obama was out raising money...Hillary should have been too.

[melann830]

Then would you be saying that Obama sees money more important than the real issues--ha!

[ladygreenslippers]

Oh Al,

I don't know how i feel about this. Will that up Obama's delegate count? Then go for it!

[darkladyofala]

I will be surprised if Gore endorses anyone; and amazed if it is Hillary!
It is too bad that she is tainted by Bill; not only carrying her own baggage but, his as well.

[finally]

I think this is another Clinton underdog maneuver: raise the expectatins, and then if it does not happen, it looks like O loses something. Anything to win, at all costs to any one as well as the party!