Do you think the fact that Barack Obama is outpacing Hillary in fundraising for the Democratic primaries (see today's USA Today) means that Al should jump in now? Obama's popularity has made it clear that Dems, including big Dem donors once loyal to the Clintons, are looking for someone else. Maybe Obama's the man, but Gore's got the experience as well as the vision thing.
But he needs the financial backing, too, before all of it is grabbed by the other contenders.

Forbes magazine makes this point in a recent article that Gore's time to jump in may need to be sooner rather than later.

I thought I'd raise the question about what the fundraising issue means for Gore's decision.

I think Gore will need to get in sooner rather than later. There's an article in the Huffington Post that addresses some of this and also has some comments from Joe Trippi about Gore getting in. See below:

James Boyce
04.16.2007
The Presidential Pool: Jumping In From Left And Right

Every day, it's the same conversation about the same people for 2008.

On the left, it's Hillary, Barack and John Edwards. And even though there are some slight changes on polling, opinion, and news, for the most part, the story lines remain the same.

On the right, it's Giuliani, McCain and Romney. And again, the story is pretty much proceeding as expected.

But here are two things to watch out for as we head into spring.

On the left, the netroots-early-warning-detection-system is starting to buzz a little bit and the recipient of the buzz is Bill Richardson. He is getting attention for his simple and strong Iraq stand (which many of his new admirers like very much compared to the continuing nuances of the big three) and his foreign policy experience, especially the way he has worked with North Korea and Darfur.

Richardson is also good on energy policy, has been everything from a Governor to an Ambassador and don't forget, he's Hispanic on his mother's side. He raised good money in the first quarter, $6.2 million, and spent very little leaving his cash on hand at over $5,000,000 on par with John McCain.

Richardson will get a look over the next sixty to ninety days and if he transfers his growing online buzz into mainstream media buzz, watch out. Media pundits are a little bored of the Hillary / Barack / Edwards stories and they might latch onto the new guy and jump him up a notch. I think he would hurt each of th big three equally, pulling a few points from each and moving into mid-teens by June.

On the right, this would be the bombshell but I personally believe that every day the right's contenders flounder, and if it appears that McCain slides towards "no chance in hell status" you will see Vice President Dick Cheney enter the race "for the good of the country."

Remember: he was Bush's choice to head up the VP search and in the process, discovered himself. He is a true believer in wingnuttery and the pressure from the extreme right has to be certainly growing. They have no candidate and no hope right now and eight years of President Democrat is enough for Sean Hannity to give Cheney mouth-to-mouth next time his ticker tocks.

Back to the left. Will Al Gore enter the race late? Will he come in and ride his leadership on Iraq and his leadership on Global Warming? Well, Nate Wilcox and I had Joe Trippi on our BlogTalkRadio show "Heading Left" recently and it got me thinking about a couple of extra scenarios.

Gore could enter the race with a pure netroots / grassroots play, committing to accepting no more than $500 from any one person (Joe Trippi likes the $100 per person commitment, I think $500 will be more reasonable.)

Gore could in very short order raise an average of $80 from 1,000,000 Americans in 30 days. Very very possible. (This is $80,000,000 in the bank. His own algore.com email list by the way has added huge numbers since it launched.)

Gore could then pick and choose the states to play in and focus heavily on the Super Tuesday and early states where he can win the most delegates. (California for example. Florida owes him one I am told.) Imagine the October - February stretch and all the stories when Gore shows up in New Hampshire, for example, for the first time in seven years as a candidate. He will dominate the airwaves.

Gore and his team also need to do some serious delegate counting. It's been a while since getting the majority of delegates really counted - it will this time. In 2004, John Kerry coasted after Iowa and New Hampshire, this time, every delegate will count. If there are four running, and then Gore makes five, he could get the delegates he needs.

Gore can then head onto the convention and either emerges the Nominee or brokers a deal to address Global Warming (a new cabinet position and federal department perhaps?) But if he gets in late, with a strong netroots / grassroots play, with his Iraq message and global warming chops, the media will flock, and primary voters will be looking for something new to talk about, he might be the greatest comeback kid of all time.

Besides if you think Clinton-Giuliani would be a fight, just imagine the smackdown that would be Cheney-Gore.

Let the games begin.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-boyce/...ju_b_45956.html

Gore/RICHARDSON would get a vote from my Republican brother. No other combo.

No to Richardson, can't be trusted.

Well, we won't miss his (my brother's) one vote. ;)

Richardson doesn't even want AL GORE to run.............Check this out:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Al_Gore_Support...6159&st=0&#last

Worth repeating RICHARDSON OF HENRY KISSINGER ASSOCIATES,
WHO PREVENTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE UNDERCOUNT OF VOTES
IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES, CANNOT BE TRUSTED!

I wish Al Gore got in the race when I advocated, before Barack Obama did
(no need to go over his experience and what not, it is countered with timing, momentum, and the cause is right at this moment in time)

and everyone said, no the very last moment is the best

I have been wrong alot lately, and maybe I will be wrong here but now its not
just Hillary dropping in the polls, now it is harder

It's like a window to another demension or a space flight having to blast off at just the right time

I think we have to trust that if he is going to get in, he'll know when the best time is. All we can do is speculate and try to deal with the suspense. I go from high to low in seconds these days. Every little thing I hear sends me into alternate doubt and elation. I don't know how much longer I can take it . . .

I know how you feel, EM. Everyday I check all the Gore websites and articles I can find, looking for any signs/indications that he's going to run. And I go from excited to let down depending on what I read. The suspense is almost unbearable sometimes. But I try to remember that if he's going to run, he will announce when he's ready and the timing it right. So I'll continue to watch and wait and pray...
:Y:

The roller coaster ride is making me sick . . . :dripple:

Sometimes it's all I think about. I sure wish he would let us know, but it's his decision and he will let us know when he's ready. Just don't give up, I'm not.

No, I won't give up either. I didn't know if I should mention anything here - but I did receive a response from Mr. Gore from a recent letter I wrote him asking him to run for president. His reply was basically what it's been for months now. Here is a quote from the letter...

"While I do not have any plans to be a candidate again, I intend to remain very active in fighting for the causes we believe in and working to ensure that the Democratic Party becomes a more effective voice for the values that you and I hold dear." (awesome guy, isn't he.)

I can't help but believe that this is encouraging news because he still won't state in absolute terms that he is not going to run. I think he would be making the so-called Sherman statement if he REALLY had no thoughts about running. But because he won't make that statement (at least for now anyway), I think that's a good sign. I hope so anyway.

And so the wait continues....

Aw, Earthmom
Just take a deep breath and try to kick back, and spend some time
taking care of yourself. Do meditation, yoga, think good thoughts
whatever it takes.
We need you not to be burned out, you've come such along way

I know this is going to be OK.
I'm sending you positive, healing, energy waves right now.

Next week I'll send you my super secret Fantastic Plan
We all love you for having done so much.

:wub: :blush:

Thank you so much, amphora. I'll try to heed your advice . . .

Second that.

Positive, peaceful energy waves to earthmother...
:)

Just do what I do. Tell everyone he will definitely announce later this summer or early Fall and we have to let everyone know he is the person to run this country. :D

GIMME MORE

GIMME GORE

I'll deal with the disappointment later if need be but I have convinced myself he will run.