The Al Gore Veep Talk

By Kleinheider Posted on June 13, 2008 at 7:28 am

Could a Veep nod from Obama be the way back into politics for Al Gore:

[C]learly, the vice presidency has become more important since he held it. He could have the administration’s energy and environmental portfolios and use that position to achieve some of the goals that have been dearest to him. He was probably right to stay out of the presidential race this year because he judged that he couldn’t win it. But he hasn’t said he’s not interested in high office. This could be his way back in.

The interesting thing about all this is that back when Al Gore would have had to decide to run, Hillary Clinton looked unbeatable. Al Gore may have insisted that he was through with electoral politics but the man came within a hair’s breadth of the Presidency in 2000.

The reason he demurred may have been as simple as him not wanting to go up against the Clinton machine. Now that that machine is dead, the forces that would have been arrayed against Al Gore in Democratic politics no longer exist. While he might be in no itching hurry to take a job he already had, the simple fact is that if Al Gore wants ever to be President ticketing up with Obama may be the only path. If Obama wins, then 2012 is out for him. In 2016 whoever Obama does pick for Veep will be set up for a run.

If Gore wants to be President in his lifetime taking the plunge with Obama may be his only hope. The only question is: Does he want it and will Barack Obama be willing to cede power to a man whose profile would necessitate an almost co-presidency, ala the co-presidency that almost was with Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford?

All of this, of course, is predicated on an Obama win. If Gore believes that Obama is destined to lose, the very best thing he could do for his future political prospects is exactly what he is doing — nothing.

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Tags: Al Gore, Barack Obama, co-presidency, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, the Clinton Machine