Not only would this ticket win in 2008 by a landslide, it would guarantee the WH would be under could lead to progressive leadership for 16 years. And don't think the opposition doesn't know this. In fact, they are praying fervently that Gore doesn't get in the race. A redstate blogger clues us in to what they are thinking, and worrying about:
...let me explain how I think Al Gore could actually beat Hillary even though he would be entering so late, then I will explain why I think he would crush us in the general election.
So they are talking about the Gore-geous Gore-illas, and they're not talking about a possible run in 2012 or 2016. It's 2008 that is the turning point. For the country, for addressing the climate crisis in perspective of every other issue, and for Gore.
The blogger posits on what this winning ticket would mean to the GOP:
- Millions of voters, including those elusive moderate voters, believe Gore should have won in 2000 and now they have serious buyer’s remorse with GWB. That will probably put them in a mood to give Gore a shot because it only seems fair.
- Gore is a celebrity to many moderates who view him as a hero for the Global Warming garbage that won him an Academy Award and a Nobel Peace Prize. Obama has very low negatives and is also well-liked by many moderates for his non-specific and happy rhetoric.
- The combination of Gore being Southern, higher turnout from African Americans and Warner’s coattails probably would cause us to lose Tennessee and Virginia. Florida would potentially be in play due to remorse from 2000 and higher African American turnout. We would also be in trouble in every purple state because even though Gore and Obama are more liberal than Clinton, they are viewed as being more moderate and are certainly less polarizing. States like Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin would be much harder to win if against a Gore/Obama ticket than they would be against a Clinton/Bayh ticket.
This isn't going to happen just because we wish it so. NOW is the time to put our boots on the ground. Online polls and petitions, diaries expressing our undying (or at least smoldering) love for Al Gore, and commenting on each other's brilliance in bringing more news are terrific tools, but there's more to be done.
I know many of you have been working hard at this for a lot longer than I have. Consider me an infusion of energy, because I am fresh on the scene and raring to go. Here are a few ideas I've had:
#1 Every article you find about global warming/climate crisis that allows comments, mention the other policy issue statements Mr. Gore has made on current.com. That will drive traffic to the site and get people to realize that he isn't a one-issue candidate. We know it, but others may not.
#2 Besides participating in online polls and petitions, find active chapters (for your area) at DraftGore.com and AlGore.org and volunteer to do some boots-on-the-ground stuff. There are some serious ballot signature collecting campaigns going on in states with upcoming deadlines and your help is needed.
#3 Try to get your local paper to write an article about your participation in this movement. That is free advertising for the objective.
This happened for me recently, but only because the paper contacted me, having found my DraftGore.com local chapter. The reporter told me she doesn't vote (I tried to enlist her!), but she seems very sympathetic to our cause. In fact, the reporter called me today because a lady contacted her to find out how to get involved. This sweet lady doesn't have the internet, but wanted to do something. She's going to make calls and talk to people in town (she's been here a long time and knows a lot of people).
#4 Talk to everyone you come in contact with about their thoughts on the upcoming election.
I had a conversation with a man in a parking lot because I noticed that he noticed my bumper sticker. He had the meme talking points, but I had counter-points. We compared Al Gore with the current candidates (and he told me a Hillary joke). By the end of the conversation, he said he would think about what I said and would consider voting for Gore. I know many of you are already doing some or all of these things, but we have to keep in mind that it's not enough to ask Mr. Gore to run. We have to prove it by our actions to get more people involved.
So lace up your boots. Let's get this done and make Al proud of us.