Gore, 60, who won the Nobel Prize and built a constituency by championing the fight against climate change since losing the election to George W. Bush, has so far stayed out of the battle between Obama and Clinton.
``The Al Gore watch starts now,'' said Ken Goldstein, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Gore, who is one of the party's superdelegates, has indicated he won't give his endorsement until the primary contest is finished. His spokeswoman, Kalee Kreider, said yesterday that Gore had no further comment.
It's not wonder that Al Gore has yet to make an official endorsement. He has strong ties with the Clinton's and he does not want to offend his friends. If it appears that Clinton has no chance of gaining the superdelegates needed to gain the nomination he will side with Obama and it will be easily explained to the Clinton's as a move to unify the party.
He is such an influential person that I think if he had endorsed Hillary early in the contest she would have many more superdelegates at her side now.
It will be interesting to see what he does and what he says about his choice.
Why didn't he endorse Hilary from the beginning, if he was such close friends with them? Surely, he is not unaware of his influence, particularly among Democrats. I think that, in the interest of ending this long and protracted contest, he should throw his support behind Obama. Hilary's fight is over. She's behind in the popular vote and the delegate and super delegate counts. Enough is enough. No one will ever say of Hilary that she is not a fighter. But if she persists they will say that she is a divider, of her own party nonetheless. Her actions are only diminishing the chances of a Democratic victory in the national election.
I think its any ones guess why he didn't endorse her early on. Perhaps he thought that Obama would be the better candidate, and like I said earlier, didn't want to risk being rejected from the Clinton's had he endorsed Obama and Hillary won? My guess is that he wanted to look like a friend to both so that he would secure a place, or at least favor, among whoever was elected.
I don't think that Hillary's staying in the race is causing anymore damage than has already occurred. Why shouldn't the remaining states get the opportunity to vote for who they think is the best candidate? I believe that dismissing the remaining states will inspire anger in those voters at being ignored. That will not help mend any divide that exists in the party. I have all faith in Hillary that she will pull out when everyone has had their vote and she has no chance of victory. She has already began making the case to her supporters that if she does not get the nomination it would be folly to vote for McCain instead. Her loyal followers will vote how she says they should vote.
At any rate there is a possibility that Obama will get the nomination and he will choose Hillary as his VP. That is what the voters want, that is what will mend any rift in the Democratic Party.
It is rare that the nomination process even takes this long. So, the argument of disenfranchisement is moot. It would be more productive and interesting to argue for a complete overhaul of the nomination process. That's for another time, perhaps.
Tell me, what reason is there for her to continue? She's played her hand already and she's lost. She's lost in an undignified manner at that. Hilary would not be my choice for vice president for Obama. Personally, I would like to see Sen. Biden get and accept the nod. He has real experience, especially in matters of foreign policy. Hilary has injected too much bad blood into the public debate with her negative campaigning.
I agree we need to address the nomination process, there is no doubt about that.
I'd say an important reason for her to stay in the race is not to alienate the voters who are left. Hillary has so many devoted supporters, as does Obama, that want to have their own chance to make a statement. There is excitement about this election and I think that that is wonderful. We have had too many elections where people don't care enough to vote. Stripping those new and excited voters of their ability to play a part in this election is not the answer. Hillary made a promise that she was in it to the end and her supporters believe in her and expect her to uphold those promises. If she dropped out without giving them an opportunity I think that they would feel abandoned and hold it against the Democratic Party in the form of voting for McCain. They would have no reason to listen to her pleas for them to vote for Obama come the general election.
Undignified?...not in my book.
But they have a choice - in the national election for which she should urge them to vote Obama, the one she ought to concede defeat to. She has reached the end. I know of not one indicator that shows her winning.
Not undignified? Do I need to remind you of her latest disgrace regarding "hard working white Americans"?
How about a 67% to 26% win over Obama in West Virginia as indicator?
Everyone knows Hillary is no racist. I think that a lot of whats going on in politics now is taking little things that meant something else and turning them to be another. If you want be play that way, how about Obama's Americans are, "bitter," and "cling to guns or religion," comment? But you know what...I know he didn't mean it how the media took it and so I let it go. Or how about, his, "sweetie," comment, made to a female reporter, asking a serious question? I could use that as evidence that he is a chauvinist, but I don't. The list goes on and on for both sides. So let's not continue on that route.
All I am saying is that three more weeks are not going to divide the Democratic Party any more than it already is. The majority of voters already know who they will vote for so let them have their say, let them take part in a very important election. I have no doubt that come the DNC we will have a united Democratic Party because these two candidates will come together, in whatever manner they decide is best.
Let's hope so. And I think the "bitter" comment is true to an extent.
By the way, many of those who voted for Hilary in West Virginia are apologetically racist.
It certainly would appear to be opportunism; casting his lot with the winner would certainly increase his chances of being influential with with the potential administration of whoever the eventual nominee is. Perhaps vying for a cabinet position, maybe Secretary of the Interior or head of the EPA?
It's a smart hand to play. It would be great if he were Secretary of the Interior. I'm sure he would make better decisions than the current place holder. I don't think that we would have to strong arm him to get obviously endangered species on the endangered list. He's turned down any idea of running for President because he feels he can do more work for his causes where he is now. I hope that he would consider Secretary of the Interior.