As recently as May 20, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Al Gore did not want to weigh in on the fight for the Democratic nomination, telling reporters, “I have not decided whether or when I will” support a candidate.
Now, of course, the nominating fight is over, and Gore is willing to enter the fray a bit. He posted this item on his site about an hour ago.
A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.
Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges — including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.
I’ve never asked members of AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign before, but this moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action. That’s why I am asking you to join me today in showing your support for Barack Obama by making a contribution to his campaign today. […]
Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action. With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country’s most pressing problems.
Specifically, Gore and Obama will appear together at a rally in Detroit, Michigan. I suspect the event will be on TV, but it will also be streamed live on Obama’s campaign site, starting at 8:30 pm eastern. (It occurs to me that John Edwards also announced his support for Obama at a rally in Michigan, suggesting this is seen as a key state this year.)
For nearly 17 months, every high-profile endorsement was considered in the context of what it would mean, and the extent to which it would benefit the Democratic candidate. In this case, Gore’s support is largely inconsequential — the primaries are over, and in a general-election context, it’s assumed that Gore would back the Democratic candidate.
That said, it’s kind of a thrill anyway. Al Gore is, after all, Al Gore. For a geek like me, Gore is a visionary leader and something of a hero. He’s steered clear of partisan politics for a long while now, so knowing that he’ll share a stage with Obama tonight is exciting, whether it has far-reaching electoral consequences or not.
As long as we’re here, though, maybe now would be a good time to raise the baseless, borderline-ridiculous speculation about Gore maybe, just maybe, being Obama’s running mate.
Just a little bit of buzz picked up last Wednesday when James Carville told Wolf Blitzer: “I think if I was Senator Obama I would say the biggest economic problem we face is the biggest national security problem and the biggest environmental problem. And if I were him, I would ask Al Gore to serve as his vice president, his energy czar, in his administration to reduce our consumption and reliance on foreign energy sources. That would send a signal to the world, to American people, to Congress, to everybody, that America’s getting serious about this horrendous problem that we face.”
Soon after The American Prospect’s Paul Starr noted a variety of reasons Dems are “likely to take this option seriously”:
* Gore answers the need for “experience,” but unlike Nunn and various others who’ve been mentioned, he doesn’t contradict the message of change or raise any tensions or conflicts with Obama’s views.
* Gore could help Obama govern, and he would be fully competent — and perceived as fully competent — to become president should something happen to Obama.
* Although in a different way from 1992, Gore is a reinforcing choice — he reinforces the sense that Obama would bring visionary leadership.
* Gore provides a link to the prosperity of the 1990s, but without the baggage that Hillary would bring.
* Gore also has the defense and foreign-policy credentials that the ticket needs.
* Gore has run a national campaign, and he has been fully “vetted.”
* All of the other options have more serious drawbacks.
The same day, TNR’s Dayo Olopade also made a very compelling case for an Obama-Gore ticket.
Do I think this is even remotely possible? Well, no. In fact, Gore has made it abundantly clear: “I don’t intend to be a part of any administration. I’ve been Vice President, I ran for President twice, so I don’t have any interest in being a cabinet member. I think my best use is in building grassroots support. I will, of course, give advice to whoever asks me for advice on this and will work to help, but not in a formal way.”
That said, a guy can dream….