Despite repeated statements that he has no plans to run for President, Al Gore’s name keeps surfacing on the internet, which he did not invent, as a potential candidate. After failing in a hotly contested race in 2000 to George Bush, a race that only ended with the Supreme Court stopping the recount of tainted Florida ballots, he moved into the private sector.
As a former politician, businessman and environmentalist, he did win a Grammy for his narration of the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, based on the theories of global warming. While jetting around the country presenting the film as a warning to end the country’s unsound environmental policies, Gore continued to gather support for another run at the White House. Although Labor Day, the traditional start of the campaign has passed, Fred Thompson has announced his candidacy as a Republican candidate and Gore is still being pushed by supporters.
As time passes and the primary season gets closer, the odds of another Gore campaign are fading. While many say it is too late for another Democrat to enter the already crowded field, supporters say the Gore factor is slowing the growth and strength of some of the more visible candidates. According to USA Election Polls (USAElectionPolls.com), Gore has an overall standing of 16% at this time and has a strong hold in Michigan.
A late entry into the race may or may not influence many voters in the Democratic primaries, but with his stature among environmentalists at an all-time high, it could be a detriment to some of the current front-runners that shy away from the environmental issues. Putting Gore back on the campaign trail could be one of the best moves of the Republican party, to help cause a deeper divide of the Democratic contenders.
