Wing Ding Democrats not pining for Gore, unsure on Biden.
Events like the Iowa Wing Ding are where draft campaigns can, well, take flight.
After all, Barack Obama was the lone Democrat in a competitive field to show up at the ding in 2007.
Last year's featured speaker, Amy Klobuchar, the first woman Minnesota sent to the U.S. Senate, was on the hot list of Democrats to consider if Hillary Clinton didn't run in 2016.
This year, the table talk was about whether anyone wants to see Vice President Joe Biden or former Vice President Al Gore run for president again. Biden has said he'll decide by the end of summer, while there are contradictory news reports about whether Gore is considering a bid.
Audience members for Friday night's multi-county fundraiser at the historic Surf Ballroom had mixed opinions about Biden, but there was very little clamor for Gore to join the 2016 party. Members of the sold-out crowd of 2,000 were there to see four announced candidates — Clinton, the former secretary of state; former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley; Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders; and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee — and they didn't seem to miss any absent possibilities.
"No. I'm not interested in seeing either one of them run," said Lu Ann Pedrick of Urbandale, a 60-year-old data analyst. "Their time has passed. And in Joe Biden's case, he's lost twice already, and now there's a rumor that he's only going to run for one term. Nobody wants a one-term president.
"And Al Gore — yeah, his time has really passed," Pedrick said.
Nancy Sweetman, a 70-year-old Mason City retiree, gave a thumbs down, too.
"I'm a strong Hillary supporter," Sweetman said. "I have a lot of respect for both Joe Biden and Al Gore. But I don't think they need to run this year."
Kathy Belles of Rudd also has little enthusiasm for two more in the race.
"Al has got that whole environmental ecoterrorism thing stuck to him. I don't think he can win," Belles said.
"Gore's been there, done that. I don't think he's a viable candidate anymore," said Bob Morgan of Cedar Falls.
Morgan's wife, Linda, added: "
Gore) sold out to George Bush in the last election. He should have put up a fight."
But Mark Feustel of Mason City said he thinks Biden would be a beneficial addition to the race.
"I worry about Hillary's baggage on her emails," Feustel said. "I think he's just very knowledgeable. He's been in the legislature for very many years, and he's just knowledgeable about what's going on in our country and the world."
Jordan Murphy also hopes Biden runs.
"Bernie's issue is it's tough to see him as an executive," said Murphy, a 28-year-old mental health services worker from Des Moines. "And Hillary's issue is the trust thing. And Biden bridges the two. And I love the guy, personally."
Murphy doubts Biden would become the Democratic nominee, "but it would be nice to see him go out and challenge Hillary and challenge Bernie," he said.
http://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/08/14/wing-ding-democrats-gore-biden-chafee-clinton-omalley-sanders/31755555/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Cheez Louise
Where do these people come from?