Gore Leaves the Door Open

By Ariel Alexovich

Former Vice President Al Gore said today that he hasn’t ruled out a future White House bid, someday, maybe … but it’s still not very likely.

CNN International reporter Jonathan Mann asked Mr. Gore if he’s considering entering the 2008 race (which Mr. Gore has said no to before) in a live interview following his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

“You may have heard my answer in other venues: I have no plans to run,” Mr. Gore said.


In a follow-up question, Mr. Gore was asked if he’d serve in the next administration if he were approached.

“No, no. If I, you know, I haven’t ruled out the idea of getting back to the political process at some point in the future — don’t expect to, but if I did get back, it would be as a candidate for president, not in any other position. But I don’t expect, I don’t expect to ever get back into the political process,” Mr. Gore replied, waving his hand in a “no way” fashion.

The ex-veep then eluded a question about whether he supports any of the 2008 candidates’ environmental platforms.

“The political system as it now operates makes it very difficult” to make global warming a top priority, he said, adding that some Democratic and Republican hopefuls have promising ideas.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

corinne December 10, 2007 · 4:58 pm

Every time I hear Gore say something like this my feelings about him get even more negative, and I actually voted for him in 2000! What kind of an entitlement does he think he has? The only political office good enough for him is the presidency???!!! It’s so irritating. Why not just say no for good and be done with it.

leo l. castillo December 10, 2007 · 4:58 pm

We Demos would and can win handily with an Obama/Gore team.
Otherwise, without Obama, we will suffer an ignominious defeat at the hands of any Republican candidate. Our record is too ineffectual to defend, we have done nothing about the war, we have failed to produce immigration reform — we have failed in every department and the electorate will be reminded a hundred times of our deficiencies. And the working classes cannot forgive our party for passing NAFTA.

Lioness December 10, 2007 · 5:04 pm

So it sounds as though Gore will not make an endorsement before the primaries? Disappointing. I was hoping he would back the best candidate (Obama).

John Paul DeVerna December 10, 2007 · 5:26 pm

As a democrat, I could live w/ four years of Giuliani (fiscal conservative, social progressive), followed by Gore winning the WH in 2012.

It seems likely to play out this way…

Hilary fires up the anti-Clinton crowd and would assure Giuliani the WH.

Obama wouldn’t fire up the GOP base, but would lose moderate democrats who think he lacks on foreign policy. Again, Giuliani would win the WH.

C. Reaves December 10, 2007 · 5:28 pm

Well corrine, maybe because he doesn’t think he would run but he might decide to one day? Kind of like…well…what he said?

Daniela December 10, 2007 · 5:30 pm

I, too, was sure that he would endorse Obama. I’m sure that’s his favorite candidate, especially seeing as how we know Gore’s big voting point is environmental issues, and Obama has the best green plan of any candidate out there.

I am also disappointed that Gore said he would not serve in any other president’s administration. That is a loss for his cause, the world, and our nation. Hopefully he’ll reconsider by the time Obama is forming his cabinet in post-Nov. 2009.

Ike December 10, 2007 · 5:30 pm

I share the sentiments of the first poster. It’s a terrible thing for Al Gore to say that he cannot serve his country in any other position, except as President. This is utter rubbish!

I guess he and the Clintons are siamese twins on that. Makes me sick. And I actually like the guy.

Warren December 10, 2007 · 5:31 pm

Leo, please. The Dems CANNOT end the war without the 60 votes in the Senate. We must continue the progressive adcances made in ’06 by funding, campaigning for and winning the races of 2008. I do agree that we have Dems in positions of power who are less than adequate (Reid, Pelosi, Hoyer, Emmanuel), HOWEVER, we will win the Presidency based on many, many factors, and continuie to make big gains in the House and Senate. The Republicans have nothing going gfor them; their incumbant retirements and extrememly feeble fundraising proves the point.

furiousnerd December 10, 2007 · 5:31 pm

What does he think he is entitled to? For one, I don’t think he feels he’s entitled. It’s likely that he feels that any office less influential than the Presidency would not warrant the stresses of a campaign and re-entry into the political spectrum as a candidate. If I’m disappointed in him for anything, it’s that A) He did not run and B) Did not publicly issue a firm “no” to those involved in the effort to draft him. Bottom line, no candidate currently running is more qualified. Plus, he already won once, as has been proven after the fact. Oh, and if you’re going to pose as a Democrat, try a little harder next time, Leo.

Rob’t December 10, 2007 · 5:33 pm

Obama needs more seasoning before becoming president. A Gore/Obama team would mean 16 years of Democratic leadership, reduced global warming, a new outlook foreign policy and a more humane domestic initiative.

M. Delfino December 10, 2007 · 5:34 pm

Mr. Gore – You know better than anyone, there is no issue more important than climate change; not health care, not immigration, not even Iraq. Change needs to happen now, not in 4 years, not sometime in the future. There is no one who is more widely visible and accomplished on this issue than yourself. The United States and the World need you to turn this nation around and show real leadership on the issue. If you run, there will be millions of us behind you. I personally will take a month leave-of-absence from my job and campaign for you. Now is the time, if you wait any longer you run the risk of giving the impression you want people to beg…

Dan December 10, 2007 · 5:36 pm

I think Obama would match up well with Giuliani’s foreign policy experience. Why would you say Giuliani has more foreign policy experience than Obama?

Unless the republicans nominate McCain, they have no foreign policy credentials at all in any of their candidates that is more impressive than Obama. Am I missing something?

If the democrats want foreign policy experience why wouldn’t they nominate Biden or Richardson. Clinton doesn’t have nearly as much experience as they do. Again, am I missing something?

Brett Iddison December 10, 2007 · 5:36 pm

It’s possible, but it seems so unlikely – Gore basically has enormous prestige worldwide as a global warming advocate (not to mention a noble prize), and he would have to fall back into the partisan game and US Presidential politics were he to run.

corinne December 10, 2007 · 5:37 pm

C. Reaves – Well of course that’s “why” but that wasn’t the main intent of my post. I was just trying to communicate that Gore’s coy manner of addressing the question, and his apparent sense of entitlement, is leaving this voter with a negative feeling that I did not use to have about him.

DB December 10, 2007 · 5:44 pm

Indeed, corrine — why would someone of Gore’s experience and stature, with the wealth of opportunities he has, have any desire to run for anything less than President? He had a hand up politically, but he also worked the rungs of the ladder — for him, anything other than President is “been there, done that”

Other Lisa December 10, 2007 · 5:49 pm

Why shouldn’t he feel entitled? He served in the second highest office in the land for two terms. He won the popular vote in 2000 and was cheated out of the White House by a dubious Supreme Court decision. If you look at his speeches starting in 2002, he’s been right on every major issue he addressed, right down to predicting the present situation in Iraq.

I don’t see how his sentiments as expressed convey a sense of self-entitlement, but he’s earned it.

Steve Bolger December 10, 2007 · 5:53 pm

Mr. Gore still prays for guidance from God. Who needs another one of those?

Karl December 10, 2007 · 5:54 pm

Gore won the popular vote for president in 2000 (and many say the electoral as well). How on earth could someone who served 8 years a VP and essential won the presidency accept being VP again? Been there, done that if you ask me. Of course it’s president or nothing.

Bill Ross December 10, 2007 · 5:55 pm

Electing Al Gore, the international climate change crusader, would instantly restore a significant proportion of respect in the rest of the world for the United States. At a point when that very much seems to be at its lowest point ever, wouldn’t that be a amazingly great thing?

At the same time, sad to say but I just don’t think that enough Americans are ready to vote for either a woman or non-completely-white man for President of the country. And I believe that, in reality, both Barack and Hilary are excellent, well-qualified candidates candidates, meaning that they’re both very qualified and have that extra pizzazz of charisma that leadership requires.

//rosswriting.com/blog
(Fair warning: only rarely is the blog’s subject at all political.)

Philip December 10, 2007 · 5:56 pm

Why would Gore want to run for political office or serve in any administration when he can make $100,000 per global warming speech which he gave in London last month. This man is a phony

LesG December 10, 2007 · 5:58 pm

Anyone who really thinks that Giuliani has a serious chance of winning the GOP presidential nomination — no less winning the White House in a general election — lives in the same fantasy world that the neocons — who predicted Iraqis welcoming US soldiers as liberators & an armed lasting wks — live in.

Let’s get real — the Republican grassroots ain’t going for a guy who — in the glare of media spotlight — flouted his marriage by having a very public affair with his assistant; who picked nasty fights with NYC firemen in the wake of 9-11; who’s record as NYC mayor was pro-abortion, friendly to illegal immigrants and to gay rights; and who’s connected to a friend, business associate & former NYC Police chief that he appointed who is currently under Federal criminal indictment. Those last 4 issues are equivalent to the third rail in grassroots GOP politics. His ceiling will be somewhere betw 15 to 20 percent of the GOP vote in any of the primaries he runs in — mainly those shmoes who still are entranced w/the media overhype of Giuliani’s stage acting during the wk of and the wk following 9-11. Fifteen to twenty percent of the vote in the primary/caucus system doesn’t get any politician any political party’s nomination.

John Bailo December 10, 2007 · 6:03 pm

Al Gore will be spending the rest of his life answering questions of charlatanism. For example, why is the 2007 hurricane season non-existent? Aren’t we all supposed to be under water by now?

Take the money and run, Al…take the money and run.

Zak December 10, 2007 · 6:06 pm

Gore is a world leader; a little above US politics. If he is true to his cause, he should not re-enter politics and take partisan stands. He is influential enough to push cause without holding any public office.

tony December 10, 2007 · 6:07 pm

He isn’t ruling out the judicial branch!

Rachel December 10, 2007 · 6:09 pm

Gore can’t support Obama on the environment because of Obama’s absurd support for agribusiness-controlled ethanol as an alternative fuel. What’s the one thing we’re going to be *more* short of than oil in the future? Water. What do you need to grow ethanol?

Obama’s cave in to his state interests on the so-called “ethanol solution” will also have the effect of entrenching third world poverty, by driving up the levels of agricultural subsidy.

I like Obama, but he’s really very weak on the environment. We need radical transport solutions, not agribusiness-inspired pork barrelling.