Certainly not the first place many of us look for our political news, but E! Online is reporting that Gore campers are saying that there's a distinct possibility that the former Vice President may still run for President. Pundits and supporters alike have said that should he be gearing for a run, to expect leaks and hints starting very soon...consider this the second such hint.
According to the source, of whom Ted Casablanca boasts he has many in the beltway, the Gore confidant told him that his boss will run, but only if he's certain that no other Democrat would win the general election. This is a bit confusing to me as this is the first time I've heard this particular reasoning...by my logic, any Democrat is favored against virtually any Republican in 2008. Apparently though, that's not Al's logic or he would've given the so-called Sherman Statement by now. Here's the quote:
"He would do it, but only, absolutely, if it looked like nobody else could take it."
Lets go with this though. The least electable Democrat, at least via conventional wisdom, is Hillary (though unlike others, I strongly disagree that she is unelectable). I'm sure Gore would agree in that sense. Who has been widening the lead in both early state and national polls? None other than Hillary herself. She's leading in most recent Iowa polls, almost all New Hampshire polls, as well as Florida, South Carolina, and Michigan polls. Likewise, she's nearing 50% nationally and, in my opinion, is beginning to run away with the race barring some major mistake on her part.
Throw in 'ole Al however, and she no longer leads in states like New Hampshire and Michigan, and the lead narrows in other states as well. Again, barring some unforeseen event, I think Al may be the only one who has a chance at stopping Hillary from getting the nomination...if this source is correct, and that's a big if, that would mean Gore would have to see Hillary as unelectable if he is to be cajoled into running.
The simple fact remains - we will know what Gore's plans are in the next two months, perhaps even within the next month. If you've waited this long for him, don't despair, you aren't going to have to wait much longer. For those currently supporting someone: should Gore run, consider him as a candidate alongside the rest of the field and I think you'll see that he is the one man or woman this community and the Democratic Party could and should rally around.
Whether he runs out of being drafted into the race, out of necessity because the others aren't making the climate crisis the number one issue, or because he thinks the others may win...I don't care and I'm sure the rest of us don't care. Just please run!