In choosing Dean--Gore bypassed his 3 finalists for VP in '00

[CMT]

It just occured to me that in choosing to support Howard Dean that Al Gore didn't only bypass Joe Lieberman but two other finalists for the VP slot: John Kerry and John Edwards.

Some sources close to '00 said that Edwards came especially close to getting the VP nomination. But in the end, Gore went with Lieberman because Edwards had only been in the senate for two years.

I thought it was kind of interesting.

[virtualobserver]

1. this time he was choosing a President n/t

[Meritaten1]

4. No, he was endorsing his choice for the nominee, that's all.

Al Gore cannot "choose" the President for voters.

[virtualobserver]

5. I didn't say that he was choosing for anyone else. n/t

[Meritaten1]

6. OK, sorry if I misunderstood your comment.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Meritaten1!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Frances]

2. I think the situation today is different

than it was at the time Gore chose his vice-presidential candidate. But you did make an interesting observation.

[tsipple]

9. Agree About the Time

2004 is a different year than 2000. Al Gore would be the first to recognize that simple fact.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. The war has become the litmus test for GOP opposition.

Yes, it's not the only important issue but it may be the most important.

For me, the war issue is not just about the war. That we are at war is a manefestation of destructive changes in US foreign policy, co-opting of the government by special interests both corporate and idealogical, and government secrecy/mendacity.

I would be all for Kerry if he hadn't been duped by Bush into voting for the IWR.

Dean/Clark 2004

[KittyWampus]

7. Gore HIMSELF Said Durbin Was Top Of List

I've never heard him mention Edwards or Kerry....

Has anyone heard Gore mention those two?

[CMT]

10. yes

and even on SNL when Gore hosted they had the skit which included Edwards and Kerry along with Lieberman as runners-up. I remember 2000 that Gore did have both Kerry and Edwards on short list it was widely reported at the time--especially Edwards.

[Padraig18]

13. I heard Gore say that about Durbin, too.

He chose Lieberman for other reasons, including pressure from Northeastern pols.

[Demobrat]

8. That was before Dean

turned out to be the one with the courage to speak out against W's war.

[realFedUp]

11. Issues have radically changed since 2000

Bush Inc. has radically changed the issues
on the table. It calls for a change in thinking
about who is supporting this administration's
radical change and who is not.

Candidates who don't reflect the change,
won't capture the anger out here.
Gore has always been ahead of the curve...
with the legislation about the Internet,
the pollution at 3 Mile Island, a book
about global warming etc.

As an "outsider" right now, Gore sees
the impetus to endorse the candidate
who is speaking out against the injustices
of this administration.
The others may have spoken out more recently
about the damage Bush is doing, but it's some
votes and a dollar short.