Al Gore fans eagerly waiting for some good news from the former VP are likely to get their first real setback today, but Draft Gore organizers are actually ramping up their operation.
Today is the deadline to file for New Hampshire's Democratic primary (even though the actual date of the election is still unknown) and all signs point to Gore taking a pass.
But ballot efforts in California, Massachusetts and elsewhere continue, and the national Draft group just bought television ads urging their favorite Democrat to jump in the race. Organizers point to polls in which Gore leads the field, figures prominently or would beat the Republicans.
The ads go live today on CNN and in New Hampshire, paid for by donations from the thousands of people who have signed on to the group's petition urging Gore to run again.
The 30-second spots center on Gore's early opposition to the Iraq war. "I believe our success in defending ourselves depends precisely on not giving up what we stand for," he says.
"Imagine a renewed world," the narrator says in the ad, which directs viewers to the group's site. "Imagine an end to the war in Iraq. Imagine Al Gore as president."
"Al Gore still has time to jump into this race," Draft Gore's Monica Friedlander said. "He maintains a massive base of support, as evidenced by recent polls and the unprecedented strength of this truly grassroots movement that's sweeping the country unlike anything we have seen in recent political history."
Gore, meanwhile, sent an e-mail to supporters yesterday touting "Step It Up 2007," an effort to get Congress to pass a plan to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent. Step It Up will hold a second round of rallies Saturday, he notes, adding: "Already, 59 Members of Congress and 7 Presidential candidates have signed up to attend rallies around the country."
Think some of those candidates would love Gore's endorsement right about now? Oh yeah, Hillary Clinton is announcing a major global warming plan next week.
--Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (1)
Al Gore will not be on the printed ballot in New Hampshire. But Democratic and Independent voters in the nation's first primary can still write in his name on the ballot. After more than a year of non-stop campaigning by Republican and Democratic candidates, more than 1 in 7 new hampshire voters are still undecided on a candidate. Polls of New Hampshire voters show persistent support for Al Gore. Farrell S. Seiler, State Coordinator, Draft Gore New Hampshire, Littleton, NH. farrell@DraftGoreNH.com
Posted by Farrell S. Seiler | November 3, 2007 6:54 AM