Gore And Dean

Why Al Gore Backed Howard Dean

Ex-Vice President Al Gore has pushed the traditional endorsement time forward by enthusiastically endorsing Howard Dean for the Democratic presidential nomination. Al Gore is known to be a thoughtful, analytical planner; so why the rush and why Dean instead of Lieberman?

If Lieberman was good enough to be Gore’s running mate for president, why not endorse him instead of Dean. I believe Gore is backing the best bet for the Democratic nomination at this time and waiting would have decreased Gore’s power and possible pay back. Let’s face it, the other Democratic candidates are running against Dean and don’t appear to be making much headway. Dean is tapping into a lot of Democratic party anger from the 2000 election. Anger that if the Supreme Court ruling had gone the other way would be coming from the Republicans.

I believe Vice President Gore thoroughly accessed the political situation and decided to place his bet on Dean, not for winning the presidency but for winning the Democratic nomination. Should Dean win the nomination, Gore gets control of the party. This is a preemptive strike against Hillary. Dean is Gore’s only hope as the Clintons are backing Clark and if Clark wins the nomination, the Clintons retain control of the Democratic party.

There is no love lost between Hillary and Gore. Hillary was determined to be a force in the Clinton administration and Al Gore was just as determined not to be figure-head Vice President. Al ran into someone as determined and politically ambiguous as himself. From what I can remember of the news, Hillary won that battle. Also, I don’t think the Clintons really gave their best effort to get Gore elected president, especially Hillary.

Since the 2002 election failure, Gore has been mostly quiet and stayed under the political radar so he could see what plans were being hatched. Gore’s backing of Dean is really a brilliant move to take the reins of the Democratic party from the Clintons. With the Clintons in control, Gore has little chance of making another presidential run and I believe he foresaw an end-around move by Hillary as a very distinct possibility.

As I see it, Hillary is hoping for a real dogfight at the DMC, where she with the help of husband President Bill, will graciously offer herself as a tie breaker and party unifier for the Democratic presidential nomination. Hillary’s plot could still work but by Gore backing Dean this early, her plot has less chance of ripening as she had planned.

To me the plan is beautiful because Hillary could appear to be a party saver and win the presidential nomination without all the fuse of running for the nomination. Sort of a dark horse slipping in on the outside while all eyes are on the other contenders.

And if Clark by some miracle should win the nomination, he may well select Hillary as his running mate to pave the way for her presidential bid in 2008 or 2012.

Now, I don’t think Gore really believes Dean can win the 2004 presidential election. Anger is not enough to win; ideas and common sense are required in the heat of the battle and I don’t think Dean has the staying power. Besides, too many things are going President G.W. Bush’s way and the likelihood of any major changes by election time are getting smaller. Also, during crisis times, voters have a tendency to stay with the president that started the dance. I believe history will back me up on this - but I could be wrong.

So if President George W. Bush wins re-election in 2004, then who will run in 2008? Cheney is out and unless President Bush picks another running mate for the 2004 bid (unlikely), the Republican nomination is up for grabs. But Gore sees 2008 as his chance if he can keep Hillary from muddying the waters and Clark from winning the 2004 nomination.

If Gore can gain control of the Democratic party, he improves his odds of getting the front-runner spot and at the very least, he can body-block Hillary’s run to the Oval office.

Now, who said politics wasn’t interesting and mentally stimulating?

Author: Don Miller
Posted: Jan. 2004

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Gore And Dean
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Terrorism I
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