If Al announces before 2008, he's an idiot.

[Junkdrawer]

And Al's not an idiot.

As soon as he announces, he's the front runner. He has so much stature that he doesn't need the time to gather funds and support. The earlier he announces, the more time the unfair "he claims to have invented the Internet, he's a stiff" stuff starts and has, through repetition, a chance to stick.

Now, that being said, will Al run? Don't know. He says HE doesn't know, and I believe him.

In my OPINION, anyone who tells you with certainty what Al will do is blowing smoke, probably with an agenda.

[NYCGirl]

1. AND if he announces too early, "An Inconvenient Truth" gets overshadowed

by it.

[nam78_two]

2. yup.nt

[madokie]

24. how fitting that pic is

one day that finger will be pointing at lil g'orge, yes you mr pResident out of our house, NOW

[Warren DeMontague]

3. I agree. If he was considering running, smartest thing to do would be exactly what he's doing.

I really hope he runs.

[Lex]

4. If he announces early, the media gets more time to smear & distort

everything he says and does and wears before the election.

[Junkdrawer]

15. They make shit up. And if it's repeated enough it's "true". n/t

[Harper_is_Bush]

5. Al has said he's done with elective politics:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2939734&mesg_id=2939827

[Junkdrawer]

8. And I've seen a dozen interviews where he says (paraphrasing):

"I'm a recovering politician, but events can change, so I never say never."

[rinsd]

6. He needs to announce before then. Iowa is the middle of Jan 2008.

Summer of 2007 could have the advantages of a late announcement without being so close as to hamper organizational efforts.

[NYCGirl]

7. His book, "The Assault on Reason" is being released in May 2007. NT

[rinsd]

10. I sense a Daily Show appearance in June 2007

:-)

[NYCGirl]

12. I think you're right.

:-)

[Junkdrawer]

14. If I were Al's adviser, I'd tell him to skip Iowa. Study Bobby Kennedy's

campaign in 1968. Now, Gore doesn't have THAT much stature, but a late entry by a big name can win.

[rinsd]

16. I'm not sure if that's possible anymore

"Bobby Kennedy's campaign in 1968. Now, Gore doesn't have THAT much stature, but a late entry by a big name can"

Yes but the reason Kennedy entered the race is because Johnson dropped out at such a late date.

There was no frontrunner with a massive warchest and organization on the ground.

Also the primaries were spaced out in the run up to the convention. Now its all over by early March. You have a 1 1/2 month window.

He could possbily skip Iowa(I've read a story that Hillary may consider doing that). But he would have to be involved in NH. Because that and the primaries in the next two weeks after set up Super Tuesday.

[Junkdrawer]

17. OK..maybe really late 2007...but Jan 2008 may be better...

I guess it all depends on the rules to get on the various primary ballots.

[rinsd]

18. That is something I failed to consider

"I guess it all depends on the rules to get on the various primary ballots."

I had forgotten about that.

So let's call CA the big enclilada even though they are incredibly late in the game this year (June 3rd) and use their registration date as the last date he could possibly enter the race.

I assume he would run under the Democratic banner but assuming he had to run as an indy he would have to have his sigs in 154 days before June 3rd. (so basically Jan 2008)

[Mabus]

19. I think the deadline to get on the ballot for NH is in Nov. 2007

So, I think most of the people who want to enter the race will get in by then. I don't know what the rules are for draft candidates.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

21. The reason Bobby entered was because of Eugene McCarthy.

McCarthy effectively challenged LBJ first.

[MemphisTiger]

9. If he doesn't announce before 2008 he could be overshadowed

by some of the other candidates that have built up steam. A year is a long time in politics. If Hillary announces early she could have built up such a lead it can't be overcome and they have to kill themselves off in the primaries and be scarred by the general election.

[Junkdrawer]

13. My opinion is the longer Hillary is in the spotlight, the worse for her...

Hillary would also benefit from a late announcement, but expectations are such that she probably can't wait as long as Gore can. Unfair maybe, but that's the way it is.

BTW: What I just said contains the agenda of those who want to pressure Gore into an announcement.

[WI_DEM]

11. maybe he'll announce in 2009

:)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

22. Even better!

[JNelson6563]

20. He needs to wait but that's too late

At least a month out from the first primary/caucus IMO.

Julie

[madokie]

23. Yes Big Al will run, and that is only my opinion

and yes he would be a fool to announce any earlier that absolutely necessary

[longship]

25. Bingo!!!

First, although there are anecdotal accounts of Gore saying he absolutely will not run, he has *never* said so when asked by the press. Instead, he couches things in soft terms like he doesn't intend to run, etc. There's all this speculation all over the place. If he were really against a 2008 run, why wouldn't he just make an announcement to the world that he isn't going to run? He hasn't done that. Why?

Second, after all this recent brouhaha about Clinton, Obama, and other presumptive 2008 candidates, does anybody think that it's wise to declare, or even appear like you're going to declare this early? Face it. Clinton and Obama might not take the nomination even if Gore stays out. They are both going to be so weather-beaten by all the slime, the media exposure, that people might be weary of them by the time the nominating elections and caucuses arrive. Other, more wise candidates, jumping into the race late in the process will likely benefit.

Third, others have pointed out that Al is having a lot of fun right now, doing things he wants to do. This is great. We all need to let him have his fun. We all know what the presidency does to a person. More than anybody, Gore knows what the next president is going to have in store. Please let the man have some time doing what he wants.

If he chooses to jump into the race, I hope it will be as late as possible. I feel confidently that he is thinking about it and has not entirely ruled it out.

We need to help him decide. However, gentle persuasion may work the best in these cases.

[Junkdrawer]

27. What longship said...

:thumbsup:

[NoPasaran]

26. He may have stature, but he'll still need organization and money

He needn't throw his hat in the ring yet, but if doesn't have at least an exploritory committee by next summer I don't think it will be doable for him.

[Junkdrawer]

28. I wonder how big a committee could be formed and yet kept secret?

2, 3, 5, 10, 30 ????

[NoPasaran]

29. In politics, no committee of more than one is likely to remain secret for long