Al Gore: Running In 2008?

It's the question that no one is asking. Still, some people provide answers:

"I do not know for sure if he's looking or flirting," Donna Brazile, his 2000 campaign manager, said in an interview Monday. "But, I have an opinion - Gore remains a headliner and can raise money and rally the base. (But) it's hard for Gore to rule out running again before looking at the landscape."

Speculation about Gore's intentions has intensified in recent weeks due to three events: his Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday speech in January lambasting the president for "breaking the law" with his warrantless domestic surveillance program; his message to Democratic donors in February soliciting funds for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; and his party fund-raising appearances this month in Florida, the scene of the controversial voter recount that led to a Supreme Court ruling that made Bush president in the 2000 election.

Gore's activities prompted pollster Lee Miringoff to include Gore in a recent poll on possible Democratic 2008 contenders. It found Gore was second only to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, suggesting his reputation with the party has improved significantly since his 2000 loss to Bush. Clinton was the favorite of 33 percent, Gore was the choice of 17 percent.

"The numbers suggest that a case could be made for Mr. Gore in 2008 ... though it's a little unclear what he may have in mind," Miringoff said in an interview. "Clearly, he is someone to be watched, especially as an alternative to Hillary Clinton."

Luckily, Dick Morris thinks he might run, which is a pretty good sign he won't:

Gore "may be a man whose time has come in his party," Dick Morris, a political adviser to Bill Clinton for 20 years, wrote recently in his column for The Hill newspaper. "Like a completely refurbished 'pre-owned vehicle,' Al Gore seems to be positioning himself to Hillary Clinton's left and greener than John Kerry ... His slogan might well read 're-elect Al Gore.'"

If Al Gore hadn't revealed himself to be an unrepetent lefty, he'd actually have a solid chance, I think. Americans believe in fairness, and Al Gore would benefit from the idea that since he was almost elected in 2000, he deserves another shot.

But that was before he started spouting off like Michael Moore. And packing on the pounds like Michael Moore. And wearing as much make-up as Michael Moore's sister.

posted by Ace at 04:46 PM

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