The Vice President's Big Helper

Although there's more than one democrat seeking the presidential nomination, President Clinton makes no pretense at impartiality. He wants Al Gore to succeed him in 2001. CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller reports.

Given the slightest encouragement, the president is happy to offer up his pitch for why Gore should be the next occupant of the White House. At a July press conference, Mr. Clinton said, "Everybody in this room knows that he's had far more responsibility and gotten more done than any Vice President in history. Nobody's ever had a role that even approximates that. I donÂ't think the American people know that yet, but I know that."

If it sounds like the president owes Gore a great debt, consider the support Gore gave him on the worst day of his presidency, the day he was impeached.

"What happened as a result does a great disservice to a man I believe will be regarded in the history books as one of our greatest presidents," said Gore of his two-time running mate.

In recent months, there's been a noticeable increase in White House efforts to portray the Vice President as a full partner in administration decisions and policies. White House press releases that would usually refer to presidential actions now include the vice presidentÂ's name in the headline.

Furthermore, the White House is letting Gore announce an increasing number of administration initiatives, including new funds for AIDS research and rural development.

Vice President Gore on an Iowa campaign stop.

But the same survey contains evidence that Gore's image among voters is not nearly as healthy. He is viewed favorably by 18 percent of those surveyed, but unfavorably by 27 percent. When asked why, those surveyed said they just don't like him, or they donÂ't see him as presidential. Most irksome from those responding unfavorably to the vice president is the perception that he's too close to Mr. Clinton.

The president takes issue with those who say he's a political liability for Gore. "All politics, all elections are about the future. And all candidates are judged on their own merits. And I believe that is the case here."

The one exception to GoreÂ's independence deals with the president's considerable fund-raising ability. In all-important fundraising, Gore is happy to stand beside the Presidential money tree. Mr. Clinton helped raise a quarter million dollars for Gore's presidental campaign recently in Arkansas.