Only one Al Gore question made it to the CNN/YouTube debate broadcast last night from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. It was funny and made most of the Democratic candidates laugh.
Does Al Gore Hurt Y’alls Feelings?
(from GoreHub.com)
This wasn't the only question submitted to CNN. You can see some of the other 'Al Gore Voter Questions' from the YouTube Debate on the video blog on GoreHub.
Some have prematurely declared that the Gore Rd. is closed for now. 'Roads' are kind of pedestrian and, in any case, I always liked 'Boulevards' and 'Avenues' better. Is one going to open up soon?
See the answer on the flip side.
* Update #1 -- The Institute of Southern Studies didn't particularly care for Joe Biden's response when he characterized the two guys from Tennessee in that Gore video as needing some help
I think Sen. Biden is not familiar with the Red State Report, starring Jackie Broyles and Dunlap out of Murfreesboro, TN. Memo to Sen. Biden: it's an act. We're not really like that down here.
I saw this cartoon today in the Hartford Courant that sums up the feelings of many on Daily Kos and provides an answer to whether Al Gore will throw his hat into the ring
"
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant
(hat tip - Dylan Hassinger: Bloggers For Gore and also check out the new Al Gore Ballots Project announced today)
Two weeks ago, I wrote about a very prominent conservative publisher warning the Republican Party to 'Watch Out For Al Gore'. Yesterday, on The Hill's 'Pundit Blog' conservative radio talk show host, Armstrong Williams, joined the growing chorus on the Right among those who see Gore's candidacy as a serious threat to his party's chances of retaining the White House in 2008
In this video, Armstrong Williams explains why he thinks Al Gore will enter the presidential race this year and how Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) could be a suitable running mate. Williams thinks Hillary Clinton is a formidable candidate and Barack Obama has matured a lot during this campaign. But, given what happened in Florida following election day in November 2000, Al Gore retains a great deal of support and that a Gore/Obama ticket is "almost unbeatable."
You Can Watch the Video Here
Even as an unannounced candidate, how is Gore faring in recent polls? Last month, a poll in New Hampshire showed Gore leading all Democratic candidates and yesterday, former Senior Advisor on John Kerry's 2004 Presidential Campaign, james boyce, detailed a scenario on 'Huffington Post' under which Gore could win the required 2,182 delegates to secure the 2008 Democratic nomination. They key to this strategy would be the Florida Primary on January 29, 2008
Right now, it looks like the first four states could be won by at least two, if not three different candidates.
Not only that, but before the first four are done, in fact on the same day as South Carolina, on January 29, two weeks after Iowa kicks it off, guess who is having their primary? Florida. Al Gore back in Florida? Something tells me he might get a fair amount of press out of that, what do you think?
Florida has 185 total delegates at stake. More than the first four states combined. So even if Gore got totally wiped out of the first four -- despite evidence to the contrary in recent NH polling, he would be in the lead delegate wise if he won Florida. Interesting.
So, what do Democratic primary voters in Florida think of Al Gore today? According to the Quinnipiac University Poll released yesterday, Gore comes in second (tied with Obama) behind Hillary, is as competitive against the Republican candidates as any of the others, and, importantly, has the highest favorability ratings of any of the Democratic candidates
Question: TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2008 Democratic primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Al Gore, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson for whom would you vote?
- Hillary Clinton - 36% (49% in February 7th Poll - Down 13%).
- Al Gore - 14% (7% in February 7th Poll - Up 7%).
- Barack Obama - 14% (13% in February 7th Poll - Up 1%).
- John Edwards - 9% (7% in February 7th Poll - Up 2%).
- Don't Know - 14% (13% in February 7th Poll - Up 1%).
- Others - No one else above 2%.
Question: Is your opinion of -- favorable, unfavorable?
- Al Gore - 52%-39%.
- Hillary Clinton - 49%-44%.
- Barack Obama - 45-25.
- John Edwards - 40%-32%.
* Update #2 -- I just got this email which featured an interview with Laurie David. Notice when she says that "there's probably not a day which goes by when he (Gore) isn't thinking about running" within the first minute
In the first of a six-part interview with The Daily Green’s founder, Deborah Barrow, activist and Hollywood Democrat insider Laurie David talks about the 2008 presidential election, the possibility of Al Gore running for president, and the tantalizing prospect of a Gore-Obama ticket. David produced "An Inconvenient Truth" and is an influential voice in the green movement.
I also received an email message today from Al Gore in which he invites you to submit your videos and suggestions on how to combat the climate crisis
Former Vice President Al Gore in his home office in Nashville, TN. (Time magazine)
Well, now you have the chance! Current TV and the Alliance for Climate Protection have teamed up to sponsor 60 Seconds to Save the Earth.
The premise is simple: make the best 15, 30, or 60-second ad showcasing how you or someone you know is taking action to alleviate the climate crisis -- or create an original, persuasive message that will open eyes, inspire change and empower your audience.
Get the details and create your ad by visiting:
http://www.current.tv/...
After you submit your ad, our panel of celebrity judges will narrow the field to 20 finalists. Then you will be able to help pick the winner through an online vote. The top ads will be aired internationally on Current TV, featured in the Alliance's national campaign, and showcased on MySpace's Impact channel.
In addition, the grand-prize winner will receive a Toyota hybrid car, while three finalists will win Sony electronic products, and 16 semi-finalists will receive T-Mobile Sidekicks.
So get started -- in 60 seconds you can save the planet. Learn about this incredible contest and submit your ad today by visiting:
http://www.current.tv/...
I know there are a few naysayers here who are convinced Al Gore isn't running in 2008. But, none of the Democratic candidates should rest easy nor ignore this possibility.
Not yet - at least!
(crossposted at Truth & Progress)