So Gore or Clinton Comes out and Supports Candiate X (or Y or Z)

[Starpass]

I'd say that a good share of the people on this board like Gore and Clinton or one or the other. Now, at some point (unless they do it AFTER the candidate is picked---and I think at least Gore is going to support someone 'before')what happens if he doesn't pick your candidate?? I wonder if it starts a feeding fest of destroying these guys? Will people listen to the reasons why they picked the candidate they did and perhaps give credit that these two seasoned politicians have good instincts????? Remember they are very much "establishment" politicians. They are part of the DNC power structure. We are also going to have other Dem leaders join in here and there and maybe one or two that you have always liked, doesn't like your candidate. I hope this doesn't divide up the active base.....the inactive base could care less, they're just waiting until summer to see who's running against Bush. We can fight like hell...it's good for the soul....but we better bite our tongues off when we walk into the Fleet Center next summer because we cannot let the inactive American people nor the media whores smell rancor - the whores will hype it as a bunch of disorganized twits who are incapable of running the nation unlike the solid (Nazi goosestepping) repukes.

[DrGonzoLives]

1. Feeding frenzy

God help us if Gore or Clinton come out and back Dean...an inferno would be a kind way to describe what this board will become.

[blm]

3. Clinton bears no grudge to Trippi

for throwing Whitewater at him during a live debate, giving a story with no legs a new life?

[DrGonzoLives]

11. Thank you for proving my point

:eyes:

[magnolia]

7. I have to admit...

...that, even though I consider myself a very intelligent and well informed person...I do believe that Gore and Clinton are MORE intelligent and informed...and they are both experienced. I trust both...so I would go with whoever they support.

[uptohere]

2. I can't see either backing one until there is an obvious winner

That seems to be how its going this time out. Unity and all that. I think thats why unions are holding off as well.

[Starpass]

6. uptohere----the unions have been backing Gep like crazy, he's

already gotten most of them--publicly stated endorsements and all. I believe Gore indicated that by December he would back a candidate. Anyway he didn't say "I will back OUR candidate"; he said he would endorse someone...so it's coming.

[dofus]

4. It will certainly polarize

DU, given how vocal the various Dem candidate supporters are. I know I'd be highly disappointed if my favorite candidate (Dean) isn't the one endorsed.

I suspect neither one will do much active endorsing until a genuine front-runner emerges.

[chaumont58]

5. I just can't see either doing any endorsment until after the convention

It isn't smart politics to get involved now. Supposing either was to back a losing candidate. It would piss off the winner, and provide cannon fodder for the repukes. They could say: "Look, Clinton(and or Gore) disliked the nominee so much, he backed whats-zis-name during the primary season." Won't happen. A large, large amount to lose, and not much to gain.

[Starpass]

8. chau--just I just said above---Gore did say something about it in

that last speech of his...remember?? He didn't say "I will back OUR nominee"; he said he would endorse someone but wouldn't run himself and I thought the month of December (??) was mentioned by him or "before the primaries" or something. Anyway, I remember immediately thinking "I wonder who he's talking about". In fact I think there was a discussion on DU shortly after with people speculating who it would be.

[Starpass]

9. oh, chau, P.S.

Also I've been hearing these reports that Clinton is working behind the scenes with Clark????---like two boys from Arkansas (which would be a good cover for Clinton or the Clintons as in: hey, he's from my old stomping grounds). I don't know how true that is; but if it is and Clark were lagging in the polls nearing primary time, I think, indeed, you could have one or both Clintons supporting him.

[JI7]

10. will like them no matter what

i will like them even if they don't pick my candidate and endorse another. but i don't believe clinton or gore will endorse anyone in the primary.

[onehandle]

13. I believe they will at some point...

However it will be later next year. At this point, we have No idea who the actual front runners are. Wait until Spring for that.

[RobertFrancisK]

12. I could see Clinton endorsing Clark

They're both for Arkansas and he already said he thought Clark would make a great President. If Bill does get involved my guess is that would be who he'd support.

[TacticalPeek]

14. I doubted your notion that Gore had said he'd endorse, but

rather than ask you for a link:
snip
RAY SUAREZ: Before long, other Senators could join the race, including the chamber's top Democrat, Tom Daschle, and John Edwards of North Carolina. Richard Gephardt who just stepped down as top Democrat in the House, is also mentioned, as is civil rights leader Al Sharpton. Today Mr. Gore commented on the emerging field.

AL GORE: I'll probably endorse someone. I don't know for sure, but I probably will. And I have communicated directly with Senator Edwards and Senator Lieberman and Senator Kerry, and each of them has asked for my support, and I'm very grateful for that. And, you know, bear in mind it's not just my support. I'm very influential with my wife and children, and take it from me, a half dozen votes could make all the difference in a Presidential race.
snip
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec02/gore_setup_12-16.html

So, I stand pre-corrected. But "I don't know for sure, but I probably will" does leave beaucoup wiggle room.


The only thing that matters is OUSTING AWOL from his ill-gotten office. As chau sez, "A large, large amount to lose, and not much to gain" from endorsing. And as you say, these are wizened pro's. As such, they could be expected to only act where a clear, big, net plus was the prize. If there was a sure, fairly early, inevitable winner, I can see the value in the endorsements to achieve a defacto nomination. This would allow the general election to in effect start early, say early to mid-summer. Properly managed, this would be a benefit to the Main Goal: unseating the usurper. But watch out for shooting the wad early, a la Dole in '96.

Of course, onehandle is right; until spring rains, this is pure fantasy football. Fun, though.