Could Former Vice President Al Gore be Future Vice President Al Gore?
June 18th 2008 02:45
Despite all the talk of a Barack Obama / Hillary Clinton "dream ticket," Al Gore's recent endorsement of Barack Obama brought to mind a perhaps even dreamier ticket. Al Gore may not be a ground-breaking candidate like Obama or Clinton, but his appeal and respect among Democrats and growing legions of young independents and even some Republicans gives him a dynamic he and he alone could bring to Obama's campaign. Could Gore's endorsement event in Michigan be a precursor to his vice presidential candidacy?
Obama's two major vice presidential needs are conflicting and rule out many of the top contenders: 1) A candidate who is not a Washington insider and therefore will not clash with Obama's theme of "change." 2) A candidate with significant experience, especially in foreign policy, to compliment Obama's lack of experience. Clinton has vast experience, but has been a Washington insider for 16 years and represents more of a throwback to the 1990s than the ushering in of a new era. Other experienced contenders, such as Joe Biden and Bill Richardson present similar dilemmas. Change candidates, such as Governors Tim Kaine of Virginia and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Virginia Senator Jim Webb all lack the experience to balance the ticket.
Enter Al Gore.
Al Gore could be the most experienced eligible vice presidential candidate on the planet. Not only does he have vast foreign policy experience, his early opposition to the Iraq war pares him nicely with Obama, making them a prophetically anti-war ticket.
Gore would also help Obama bring in one two of his key demographics: youth and independents. While the environment has become an issue which appeals to all age groups, it has special appeal among young voters. Likewise, the environment and global climate change are key issues for independents, many of which might fall in line with Republican nominee John McCain on economic and social issues. Polls show Obama and McCain in a dead heat for independents. Gore’s environmental heroism and principled stance on the Iraq war would help Obama win this crucial demographic.
A Gore pick is not without a downside, however. One thing you like a vice presidential candidate to do is bring a state into play and it’s not clear if Al Gore would be able to put Tennessee within reach for Obama. John Kerry lost Tennessee by 14 points in 2004 and Gore himself lost the state by four points in 2000.
Gore could also conjure up memories of the scandals of the Clinton years and of his own miscues from his deeply-flawed 2000 campaign.
However, the now Nobel-Prize-toting Gore has transformed as a politician since leaving office. Chuckles at him “inventing the Internet” have faded from memory as his status as the leader of crusade to save the planet has risen. Given Bill Clinton’s recent trip through the mud on behalf of his wife’s campaign, Gore could be the premier elder-statesman in the Democratic Party.
If Obama were to pick Gore, he could dominate news coverage for weeks, rally his party, bring in independents and give his campaign instant foreign policy credentials. But would another stint as vice president appeal to Gore?
Gore seems to be enjoying his time away from politics and has expressed a desire to focus solely on environmental issues. However, there might not be any job where Gore could better impact the environment than as vice president of the United States. While he would have only a meager vote in the United States Senate, he could serve as President Obama’s ambassador to the world on the issue of global climate change. Much like Dick Cheney was the driving force behind war with Iraq, Gore could be the driving force behind the United States’ renewable energy revolution. He would also have the opportunity to bring world leaders together to renegotiate the Kyoto treaty, which will expire during the next president’s term.
As appealing as all that might be to Gore, he might find his current informal role, and the freedom it comes with, more appealing. But the possibility should be worthy of consideration by both Obama and Gore. And that makes it just likely enough of a scenario to be intriguing.
Obama's two major vice presidential needs are conflicting and rule out many of the top contenders: 1) A candidate who is not a Washington insider and therefore will not clash with Obama's theme of "change." 2) A candidate with significant experience, especially in foreign policy, to compliment Obama's lack of experience. Clinton has vast experience, but has been a Washington insider for 16 years and represents more of a throwback to the 1990s than the ushering in of a new era. Other experienced contenders, such as Joe Biden and Bill Richardson present similar dilemmas. Change candidates, such as Governors Tim Kaine of Virginia and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Virginia Senator Jim Webb all lack the experience to balance the ticket.
Enter Al Gore.
Al Gore could be the most experienced eligible vice presidential candidate on the planet. Not only does he have vast foreign policy experience, his early opposition to the Iraq war pares him nicely with Obama, making them a prophetically anti-war ticket.
Gore would also help Obama bring in one two of his key demographics: youth and independents. While the environment has become an issue which appeals to all age groups, it has special appeal among young voters. Likewise, the environment and global climate change are key issues for independents, many of which might fall in line with Republican nominee John McCain on economic and social issues. Polls show Obama and McCain in a dead heat for independents. Gore’s environmental heroism and principled stance on the Iraq war would help Obama win this crucial demographic.
A Gore pick is not without a downside, however. One thing you like a vice presidential candidate to do is bring a state into play and it’s not clear if Al Gore would be able to put Tennessee within reach for Obama. John Kerry lost Tennessee by 14 points in 2004 and Gore himself lost the state by four points in 2000.
Gore could also conjure up memories of the scandals of the Clinton years and of his own miscues from his deeply-flawed 2000 campaign.
However, the now Nobel-Prize-toting Gore has transformed as a politician since leaving office. Chuckles at him “inventing the Internet” have faded from memory as his status as the leader of crusade to save the planet has risen. Given Bill Clinton’s recent trip through the mud on behalf of his wife’s campaign, Gore could be the premier elder-statesman in the Democratic Party.
If Obama were to pick Gore, he could dominate news coverage for weeks, rally his party, bring in independents and give his campaign instant foreign policy credentials. But would another stint as vice president appeal to Gore?
Gore seems to be enjoying his time away from politics and has expressed a desire to focus solely on environmental issues. However, there might not be any job where Gore could better impact the environment than as vice president of the United States. While he would have only a meager vote in the United States Senate, he could serve as President Obama’s ambassador to the world on the issue of global climate change. Much like Dick Cheney was the driving force behind war with Iraq, Gore could be the driving force behind the United States’ renewable energy revolution. He would also have the opportunity to bring world leaders together to renegotiate the Kyoto treaty, which will expire during the next president’s term.
As appealing as all that might be to Gore, he might find his current informal role, and the freedom it comes with, more appealing. But the possibility should be worthy of consideration by both Obama and Gore. And that makes it just likely enough of a scenario to be intriguing.
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Comment by Harry
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Comment by Brandon Gay
I don't think there is any question Gore would make the best vice president of the possible candidates. I also don't think anyone could give the ticket the expirience it needs better than Gore. And, he does not conflict with Obama's theme of change. I don't know how likely it is he would accept the offer, but he would have to at least give it some thought.
The vice presidency is not nearly as defined of a job as the presidency. He would have far more time to devote to global climate change as vice president than he would as president. And, if a President Obama gave him the responsibility, he could impact the issue more as vice president than he can as a private citizen. It almost seems like a perfect scenario for everyone.