NPR: Will Al Gore Run for President?

Will Al Gore Run for President?

The rumor mill has former Vice President Al Gore walking off with tomorrow's Nobel Peace Prize (along with his co-nominee, Canadian Inuit activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier). But does winning a Nobel mean that Gore might suddenly toss his hat into the ring for the Democratic nomination for president? It might seem hard to resist during such a hot streak (best-selling book, Academy Award, etc.).

The New York Times reports that Gore supporters are trying to raise money and even get him on the ballot in some states — which may be just a tad difficult if they have to get him to sign an affidavit. A group of supporters also took out a full-page ad in the Times imploring Gore to run.

So I went to our political guru Ken Rudin and posed the question to him: Will Gore run?

Nah.

Ken said there is a 5 percent to 10 percent chance that it would happen. But Ken thinks Gore has too much going against him: He has no campaign staff, he hasn't raised any money and he doesn't really have enough time to run in Iowa and New Hampshire. Not to mention that he's repeatedly said he doesn't plan to and that it would be kind of weird to run against the wife of the guy who picked him as running mate the first time around.

However, if Gore wins the Peace Prize, there could be another award in his future, as Ken noted during his appearance this week on Talk of the Nation: "Well, if he wins that and if he also loses weight, it'll be the 'no belly' prize."

4:06 PM ET | 10-11-2007 | permalink

Comments

I'd love to have Al Gore run for president -I could vote for someone I actually respect.
However, I understand if he chooses not to run.
My best hope then is that Gore be given a preimminent position of influence and power in the new democratic administration. Something like the relationship between Bobby and Robert Kennedy.
We need Al Gore at our helm. Denial aside, the ENVIRONMENT is THE salient issue of today and tomorrow.

Sent by Janet | 5:37 PM ET | 10-11-2007

I too would love to re-elect Gore as president. However, I feel he won't subject himself to the process once again. I fully agree with Janet about the environment as the one true issue facing all people. It's also the one thing people can work together for - for the benefit of ALL living things. Wouldn't some unity bode well in today's political landscape? Pun intended...

Sent by Chris | 7:08 PM ET | 10-11-2007

I would love to see Al Gore run for president. It would be a hoot to see him cornered into a debate about manmade global warming.

Sent by Ron | 7:13 PM ET | 10-11-2007

If the Dems win the oval office next year, could Gore (or would Gore) be considered a possible cabinet member?? I would love to see someone with his intelligence and intellect in close contact with the next president!

Sent by Toby | 8:39 PM ET | 10-11-2007

Although in some ways I'd love to see Al Gore as president, I actually think he has done--and can continue to do--far more good for us all in his current role. I would rather see him carry on the work he has been doing, relatively unencumbered by government and politics. I hope he does win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sent by Razinah | 11:04 PM ET | 10-11-2007

The only way I could see this happening is if the Clinton campaign implodes before Thanksgiving due to some scandal or unforeseen circumstance. I'm convinced that Hillary is the real reason Gore didn't run this election. If she gets the nomination and loses, however, that would put Gore in an excellent position in 2012 - provided the country is still standing after four more years of a Republican administration. (It would also give him time to get back to his fighting trim.)

Sent by James | 4:06 AM ET | 10-12-2007

Al Gore, along with most of the scientists, climatologists, and other well-intended academics, leaft out the most important thing people can do to change the "climate" of the world in many ways. War, food insecurity, dead zones from agribusiness run-off, deforestation, affecting carbon absorbtion and more, and the most horrific holocaust upon "farmed" animals, shifting diet to organic plant based foods! The concensus among all climate discussions is food issues, water issues, ocean degredation. The most moral and sensible solution, and the least promoted, is ending the age old reduction of animals, sea LIFE, and birds to products and commodities. The idea that other living beings are property, confined, mutilated and tortured for food, 60 BILLION land animals yearly, at its core, is obscene and unethical. Feeding the lions share of crops grown globally, soy, corn, barley, wheat, beets, to "livestock," means is a moral and political failure, when children still die of hunger and malnutrition! The media, including NPR, refuses to discuss animal agribusiness and its affect on the health of this earth, and the nations who have the highest rates of preventable degenerative diseases, nations consuming the highest amounts of meat and dairy. The diet and lifestyle that would heal most of what ails humanity, causing resource wars, environmental eco-cide, and incalculable suffering to humans and animals, is the most natural, healthy, non-violent diet from the earth, as given in Genesis 1:29.
www.heartattackproof.com www.treeoflife.nu www.drfuhrman.com www.foodnsport.com www.pcrm.org www.veganfusion are all web sites confirming the benefits of plant based foods. Al Gore should learn the affects of animal agribusiness on the planet that currently is being poisoned, as is our health, from this very cruel, violent, unsustainable, polluting system, being expanded, not abolished, as it should be.

Sent by Laura Slitt | 6:35 AM ET | 10-12-2007

Al Gore has much more freedom and has accomplished vastly more as a private citizen then he ever would as president. When you're president you're hogtied by the oil and gas lobbies and all kinds of other super-powerful interests. He is making waves these days only because he is NOT in elected office. I would hate to see him run for president.

Sent by Rhea | 9:53 AM ET | 10-12-2007

I want Gore to wait until Jeb Bush runs. See if Gore can beat any of the Bushes.

Sent by dans | 2:49 PM ET | 10-12-2007

What do you mean "See if Gore can beat any of the Bushes," dans? He beat El Presidente in 2000 in the popular vote and if Jeb and Kathy hadn't rigged Fla. he would have won the EC as well. Sheesh, it's only been 7 years (although I know it seems like an eternity).

Sent by John R. Otten | 4:56 PM ET | 10-12-2007

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