Al Gore Stays Clear of Democrat Spat (No Plans to Make an Endorsement)

[Hissyspit]

Source: New York Daily News

Al Gore stays clear of Democrat spat
BY KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Saturday, March 29th 2008, 4:00 AM

WASHINGTON - The uber-arbiter is withholding judgment.

Democratic icon Al Gore said he won't step in as broker or peacemaker in the venomous nomination battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

"I think it's going to resolve itself. But we'll see," Gore told The Associated Press, referring to the possibility of one candidate dropping out before the party convention in August.

Viewed by some as one of the few influential high priests of the party, Gore doesn't even have plans to make an endorsement - let alone play the role of referee.

Gore dismissed party worrywarts who say the Democratic infighting only helps Republican John McCain. "What have we got, five months left?" he said when asked about his endorsement.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/03/29/2008-03-29_al_gore_stays_clear_of_democrat_spat-2.html

[Demeter]

1. He Believes In Giving Hillary Enough Rope

seeing as how she left him twisting in the wind....

[Demobrat]

2. Gore dismissed party worrywarts ....

Good. I agree with this. Right now we have two strong contenders who both want to win. But this phase of the election will be over and forgotten the day after the nominee is decided and the winner will move on to fighting the Pukes. They only wish it would damage the party permanently. In their dreams.

[AZ Criminal JD]

15. You are the dreamer.

You apparently do not know political history.

[AndyTiedye]

16. Political History Would Indicate That the Race is Already Lost

Has a Democrat EVER won the Presidency after a divisive primary race like this?

Political history can make very depressing reading for us Democrats.

We will have to defy a lot of political history to win this year.

[CTyankee]

25. I'm not so sure that the primary stuff is the reason we lost.

We ran some candidates who had problems with the general electorate (Michael Dukakis and John Kerry to some extent) and some whose campaigns were not run very well (McGovern with the Eagleton problem and generalized organizational messes). But remember, there was a lot of divisiveness with the 1960 campaign (Adlai supporters vs. JFK supporters) and of course that campaign was settled until the convention (which was before we moved the modern primary system we have now). JFK also had an anti-Catholic bias to deal with and overcame it. Mondale was not destroyed by intra party fighting as much as the difficulty he had in opposing a "beloved" president.

I have been an adult during all of those campaigns going back to 1960 and while none of them had this level of divisiveness, we have never had the degree of contempt that the opposing party now inspires in the voting public. AND, we have a weak candidate in McCain, IMO. He's old, out of touch, and has nothing to offer. Nothing.

We've got a lot going for us.

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[maseman]

4. Yeah he's smart

Why would he want to endorse anyone? It is an ugly mess and he doesn't want to get involved. Wouldn't make any sense to endorse anyone.

[SteinbachMB]

5. Remember

what happened the last time he endorsed someone?

[0007]

10. Clue me.

[otohara]

11. What Happened?

He endorsed the anti-war candidate, which was fine by me!

[Clear Blue Sky]

6. He has nothing to gain by endorsing anyone now.

Keeps his own options open.

[rosesaylavee]

7. K & R

It's been reported elsewhere that he is talking to both camps... by Obama's own admission a couple weeks ago, they speak every week. I would imagine that Gore is also in regular communication with Senator Clinton. I am glad that he hasn't endorsed. He is probably one of the few who can speak to both of them about their goals for the country and what effect their campaigns are having on those goals.

However, I have to say that I think the Daily News' quote by Chelsea at the end of that story is abominable. Not what that sweet kid said but how they finished her quote for her. Somehow I doubt she referred to her dad as 'Bubba'. Damn, I miss journalism.

[bitchkitty]

13. She most assuredly did NOT say "Bubba".

Read that quote again - and note the punctuation:

"Yeah, I do think she'll be a better President" than Bubba, Chelsea said while campaigning for her mother.

You see that they didn't quote the "than Bubba" part?

I miss journalism too. It's been MIA for a while now.

[rosesaylavee]

14. I know ... I think the punctuation would missed by the average reader

They are truly despicable.

[defendandprotect]

8. Gore supposedly spurned the DLC; would he endorse HRC still--???

This is exactly why I never feel I can trust Gore ---

[PylesMalfunction]

9. If she's the nominee

I'm sure he will endorse her. I don't think that's selling out in any way, shape or form.

[defendandprotect]

19. The idea is that often people "endorse" someone BEFORE they are the official nominee . . .

Obviously, he will endorse whomever is the nominee --- in the final analysis.

[Pastiche423]

18. You like the DLC???

[C_U_L8R]

12. Ya think Al can stand Hillary ?

That would be something if he actually liked her.
I don't see it happening in a bazillion years.

[MNDemNY]

17. Endorse? of course not. He'll be the nominee.

[Patchuli]

20. From your lips to God's Ears Puhleeze!

Thanks for the good thoughts...

[rayofreason]

21. Not likely...

You want to nominate someone who has no votes in the primaries, versus one of two people who has millions?

If you want blood on the floor, let that float out to the partisans at the convention. Then you will end up with a bunch of HRC supporters and BO supporters who are so pissed off that either they stay home in November or they vote for McCain.

[MNDemNY]

24. So, let's just lose the GE then.

[totodeinhere]

22. It's highly unlikely, but that could explain his neutrality.

[BlueIris]

23. Gore is a wise man. I wish

Kerry had chosen to remain neutral as well.

[OzarkDem]

26. Who can blame him?

Let it play out.