What if .... Al Gore chose to run as an Independent?

[garybeck]

Totally hypothetical. No reason to believe he would. But I just got to thinking, what would happen if...?

Does he need the Democratic Party?

Could he win?

Would DU ban posts supporting him?

[Hydra]

1. No, yes, yes

but he would never do that...I think

[dmallind]

2. We'd get another Republican president, obviously. NT

mlkj

[txaslftist]

13. Yep.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. Hell Freezing Over

It will happen before Al runs as independent.

[Bake]

4. No way in hell that happens.

Al is a Democrat to the core. It's in his DNA.

Bake

[ronnykmarshall]

5. This will happen first

[kad7777]

6. Al Gore will not run

But I do hope he endorses the right candidate. Meaning someone who can do the best job, as opposed to endorsing who he thinks can win the election. Then again, he may not endorse anyone.

[MrModerate]

7. Dems are fielding several candidates I think . . .

Can do a "good" job. Who would do best? I'm not sure. But if Gore were to endorse someone he thought was unelectable, wouldn't that be a bit of a waste?

[kad7777]

14. for example:

Hi MrModerate;
For example, say right now at this juncture, if Al Gore came out and endorsed Joe Biden because he believed Joe was the best choice for the country, it would help Joe's campaign immensely. It would be a great thing to do for Joe Biden. But let's say he came out tomorrow and endorsed Hillary because he thought that gave the Democrats the best chance of winning the White House. I (personally) have a small problem with that. And I hear a lot of people tell me as long as a republican doesn't win, that's all that counts. I just can't wrap around that idea. Call me crazy (as I'm sure some will).

Now, on the other hand if Al Gore endorsed Hillary because he really believed in her as far as where she stands on issues. So be it. Unfortunately, we're not mind readers and we'll never truthfully know what's in his mind if he indeed endorses someone.

[MrModerate]

17. I'm with you -- I'd just advise Gore . . .

(like he needs my advice) not to shoot for ideological purity, but to also consider electability in any endorsement he might make. For that matter, he carries enough gravitas these days to go to a candidate and say "you need to put more of X into the mix to a) win and b) do the right thing" -- and have the candidate listen to him.

[CreekDog]

8. Then pigs would fly

it's not happening --pay attention!

[RiverStone]

9. what if, what if, what if.....???

I held out hope till the end of August that Al might just jump in.

No longer do I speculate, or hope, or even think about it anymore.

I'm with the flying pigs on this one.

And as aside, Al would totally kick ass (damn, there I go hoping again).

[rndmprsn]

10. for some reason i dont see gore doing that...

but if he does it will tear me apart election time =[

[Skink]

11. More likely Hillary would run as an Independant.

[rinsd]

12. He would need to party to actually win. And DU would ban posts supporting him (nt)

[polichick]

15. imo it would be great if Gore ran as an indie...

...who actually cared about the Democratic base and built a revolutionary people's platform based on our true potential as a nation and world leader.

Yes, DU would ban posts supporting him ~ this thread may even get banned.

[Milo_Bloom]

16. Not gonna happen, BUT... he doesn't, he could and they would. (nt)

[Orangepeel]

18. Then Tipper should check for a pod in the basement

because that is SO not something Al Gore would do.

But, hypothetically:

1) Probably
2) Probably not
3) Of course

People who think that Al Gore would win in a walk have very short memories. I believe that he would win as a Democrat, but it wouldn't be a cake walk. Every bullshit slur raised against him last time would be raised again, plus the charge that all the good work he's done in the last few years was phony and only done because he wanted to run. I wouldn't believe that, but with enough repetition, a lot of people will. He couldn't win without support of a party.