Gore Hasn't Ruled Out White House Run

Former VP Says He Doesn't Expect To Run But Leaves Door Open

(AP)  Former Vice President Al Gore said Sunday he hasn't ruled out making a second bid for the White House, though he said it was unlikely.

Gore spoke to reporters in Sydney, where he was promoting the local premiere of his documentary on global warming.

"I haven't completely ruled out running for president again in the future but I don't expect to," Gore said before the Sunday night premiere of "An Inconvenient Truth."

"I offer the explanation not as an effort to be coy or clever. It's just the internal shifting of gears after being in politics almost 30 years. I hate to grind the gears," he added.

Gore, who lost the presidency to President Bush in 2000 in disputed circumstances, said there was no doubt the impact of global warming would be best addressed through the power of the presidency, but making a documentary was second best.

Gore's renewed popularity and movie tours across the United States have spurred speculation of a White House run in 2008. He has previously repeatedly denied such intentions.

The documentary, which Gore narrates, is critical of the United States and Australia for refusing to adopt the Kyoto Protocol for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Prime Minister John Howard, a friend and ally of Bush, said he would not meet Gore during his Australian visit and would not heed his advice to sign up to Kyoto.

"I don't take policy advice from films," Howard told reporters.

[paul_pitcl]

Sometimes I wonder if Al did not dodge a bullet in 2000. Many of these things might still have occurred and with a Republican Congress, it would have been even more frustrating. Let's win back the Congress first and then the Presidency.

[joeytheshark]

To all above commentators: Are you all insane? You must be! You post nothing of substance, just ridiculous attacks against President Bush that have no foundation in reality. Shame an you! You are committed leftists who refuse to see the complete bankruptcy of your failed ideas. Al Gore for president? Are you living in Candyland? My God, people, you think Al Gore would confront terrorists? His response to September 11 would have been a day of mourning. THAT'S IT! No war on terror and nothing to improve our security. By the way, President Bush's grades and IQ are higher than those of Gore AND Kerry! The only thing more disturbing than your vicious rumors and ad hominem attacks on President Bush is the quickness and glee with which the lemmings who follow you accept the same drivel!

[severow]

Yes, what better way to observe the Bicentennial of the presidency of James Madison (1809-1817) than to elect a proven leader who can wrestle with the details of domestic and foreign policy administrative proposals and congressional legislative packages while holding together the constitutional threads which bind the Nation and, as Mr. Madison did during the most stressful years of the War of 1812, still honoring and respecting the U.S. Bill of Rights here at home.

Meanwhile, just as Thomas Jefferson said that a bill of rights is something the people of no nation should have to do without (letter to Madison of December 20, 1787), a President Al Gore could help forge and international movement toward ultimate environmental protection which nonetheless could retain a decent respect for the domestic needs and priorities of all nations around the world.

[clestes-2009]

Please, please Mr. Gore run. We really need someone like you in the Whitehouse. I know it will be a really nasty job cleaning up after Bush, but there is so much he has done wrong, I don't know of anyone else who could undo Bush's damage.

[jb1127]

Yes! Yes!! YES!!!

[Atlantic2752]

Gore for President, Yes...Run

[americaldwag]

I implore Al Gore to run for President again! I think that he is the only viable Democratic candidate. (Mr. Obama, from Illinois, would be a perfect running mate)

[mwitten2]

Six years and counting of the worse President in the history of the United States! Yes, Al Gore run in 2008, I don't believe the United States can take much more of the Republican style of "leadership". Additionally, we need a President who understands the great threat of global warming instead of playing patsy to the big oil companies!

[hilario3]

To have our country governed by an intellect
would show that we are rational people. Mr. Gore
has the working knowledge and respect of other
intellects in our country and around the world to
bring our nation back to prosperity and peace.
Fear has become a way of life, we should not give
this legacy to our children and to their children.

[fedora1958]

I'd be happy to vote for Al Gore in 2008.

[haida123]

This great country would be better off if Gore had won back in 2000, maybe there wouldn't have been a 9/11 if he had.

[mjv2944]

Well, I'm not a conservative Republican, but I have become alienated from the Democrats, as I don't know what they stand for. This much I know, the great Liberal experiments of the 60's, 70's have proven to be a joke. Look at the criminal justice system, education, all those politicians in Washington, they have screwed the American people so hard that we can barely walk. There is no such thing as a Republican or Democrats, just CROOKS. We have to take back our country. Vote the bums out!!!!

[kimmonterey]

Eight years of the Bush administration has so discouraged and disillusioned so many of us. To have Al Gore and John Edwards take over would pull us out of this dismal pit. What a dream come true! Nothing short of this could erase my disgust and dispair over American politics. And of all days, today is the day we could most use this lift of our spirits. Gore and Edwards are downright brilliant -- as well as men of great integrity. Gee, what a concept...

[momandfamily]

I hope he does run again... http://www.draftgore2008.org/

[gtorlando]

We need Al Gore, I don't know if we could afford 4-8 years of Republicans anymore.

[jamesarmet]

Gore's announcement that he may run for president is great news for the nation. The former vice president has the best chance of driving Bush and his cronies from power in Washington. While Hillary Clinton certainly is a powerful candidate she is still to controversial to be elected and a ticket with Gore at its head would gather together the many Americans of all parties who believe the Bush Administration is leading the country in the wrong diretion on many important issues including the unfettered tax cuts for the super rich, the large budget deficits and the total neglect of many domestic problems. Combined with the sense that the Bush Administration lacks a comprehensive policy of the Iraq war, Gore has the leadership skills needed to change the nation's direction.

[tank611]

Great news for us Democrats! Hillary can't win so she shouldn't run.

[klgrube1]

Wow! What an absolutely terrific ticket: Al Gore and John Edwards. I can't imagine our country being in any better hands! Seriously. I think they both have the intelligence, integrity, and heart that we so desperately need right now.

[bobgee_1999]

Well, why not? He already won once. But what good would it do, if the apparatus for deciding elections behind the scenes is still in place? The Bush Administration has effectively already obliterated everything that America supposedly stood for---which demonstrates that it couldn't have been much to begin with, if it only took six years to destroy. Ah well, it was a nice dream.