What effect do you think a Gore endorsement will have on Dem primary?

[blm]

WSJ, which is a subscription service, is hinting that Gore will be supporting someone soon.

I'm curious about two things. How it will effect those on DU and (please reply) to the other question it raises, how that endorsement will effect the UNDECIDED Dem primary voter.

[CMT]

1. I love Al Gore, but

I don't honestly think an endorsement will make a big difference. The days when endorsements meant a big deal went out with the smoke filled rooms. Of course there are exceptions: I think Jesse Jackson's endorsement or Corretta Scott King's would be a huge help because right now African-American's are not really enthralled with any of our candidates.

[Neecy]

2. personally....

I'm still undecided (which isn't a bad thing, since it demonstrates that we have a number of excellent candidates). I have a great deal of respect for Gore and yes, I might be influenced by an endorsement - perhaps for the first time in my life.

[bowens43]

3. It'll make no difference to me.

Hopefully by the time the primaries roll around people will have formed their own opinions of the candidates.

[quinnox]

4. I'd be curious who he endorses but

it wouldn't make any difference to my choices.

[Selwynn]

5. I think Gore is fading out of political relevancy, by his own choice..

So I don't think a Gore endorsement would carry as much weight as it would have if he had chosen to stay very involved in the thick of the political spotlight.

[tom_paine]

16. I'm afraid I agree with you, Selwynn

I had once hoped for Al to be our Vladimir Kostunicza against Bush's Milosevic. Clearly that hasn't come to pass, not even close.

At the time his nation needed him most dearly, he shrank from the fray. Not sure I can forgive him for that, though I don't dislike him or anything. Just a profoundly wearying sense of disappointment.

[blm]

24. I think it's a limited number who feel that way, though.

Most are still unaware of all the inside turmoil that colors your view and that of most of us here. The general public is a whole other story than DU, imo.

[Cheswick2.0]

26. put him in a poll with the candidates and I think you will find

he is not at all irrelevant.

[ozone_man]

29. Yes, Gore is irrelevant.

Time to move on. Gore has been out of it for 4 years now, and I am pleased to be backing someone that I can get behind. Gore just didn't turn me on.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

6. I think it will have an effect.

I could see it as a positive for a candidate. Definitely would bring more votes in than it would lose.

Gore is still popular and this is America. People love popular people.
Unfortunately I think it's that simple.

I know enough about the candidates to form my own opinion though.

TWL

[blm]

13. I didn't think many here would change their minds, at all.

That's why I asked about the undecided Democratic voters. They are the ones who haven't been exposed to the candidates in the same keyed in way most of us are.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

17. Agreed

Thats why I stated that bit about people love popular people.

Having a Gore endorsement just might sway those undecided less informed dem voters.

And as I said, unfortunately I think it IS that simple.

TWL

[mrgorth]

7. His speech to moveon/NYC

was very powerful. If he were to, say, endorse Clark or Kerry I would put some weight behind that. At the very least it might make me think that someone was giving marching orders and my choices may be less important down the road. Not sure if that's coming out right.

[Orangepeel]

8. the only thing it will do is hurt Lieberman

unless of course, it is him. If it is him, then it will be status quo.

[realFedUp]

9. True

It would be a slap in the face of Lieberman if Gore
supports someone else. I think Al should keep his
opinions to himself until the one Dem candidate is
elected.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Hmmm....Most popular votes of any Dem ever? Legit winner in 2000?

I'd say it'd be a huge plus. If it's Kerry I'd bet it would sway a huge number of undecided primary Dems his way.

[La_Serpiente]

11. I'd think that Gore

would endorse Kerry.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

14. I think so too. Esp. as a former colleague and one time VP choice

Lieberman was never really Al's favorite. Kerry more closely represents Gore's core agenda, and where "electability" is concerned, that is the deal closer.

[stickdog]

12. It will help Dean sweep. (NT)

Dean/Gore in 2004.

[salin]

15. Endorsement - and thats all - not much difference... endorsement +

stumping - very big difference. He gets more and more firey in speech. Crowds respond enthusiastically. If the candidate being endorsed did not mind being upstaged (which some candidates and/or their campaigns do NOT like to see), then having Gore with the candidate stumping would both bring bigger crowds (thus more exposure), and step up enthusiasm that much more. Stepped up enthusiasm = greater likelihood of commitment. Greater commitment = more than a vote; at worst a donation; at best a donation and volunteering (and thus bringing the exposure - through my enthusiasm - to my entire personal network of friends/family/etc.)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. salin you good!

:thumbsup: that is a huge distinction!

[blm]

19. Undoubtedly.

.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. and Gore WILL stump for his man

he said he would do everything possible to turn Bush back out on the street.

[Capn Sunshine]

20. It would give a nice "pop" to someone

KERRY for example, needs SOMETHING as a jumpstart; that might help.
Same with Clark, his original entry needs something to build on besides bad news.

"it couldn't hurt" would be my answer, it would help one of them get closer to Dean.

[demrebel]

22. He will say what the clinton's tell him

Never thinks for himself. He could be president now if he had joined with a few dem senators and said Bill you must go for lying.

We would not have this board everyday full of griping about bush if we had a standard we held up on lying.

Bill and Hillary will tell Al what to do. Just like his daddy did all those years.

[blm]

25. You couldn't really mean this to be taken seriously, could you?

.

[Cheswick2.0]

27. yeahsureright

nonsense

[paulk]

23. It might not have much effect here at D.U.

But, nationally, it will be huge. As the last legally elected president, his endorsement is the gold ring.

[mlawson]

28. Very little effect. But Tweety will get a chance

to flap his big ugly mouth, one more time, and ridicule Al Gore plus whichever Dem he endorses.

I would be more interested in Gore's reasoning, as to why he picked Dem "X"....