Why California Draft Gore Is Necessary

Written by: Roy Gayhart on Oct 28, 2007 8:32 PM EDT

We’ve always said that the window for Al Gore's decision to run was between October 12 and November 14. We’re only half way into that window. During these last sixteen days: Gore has said that he’s going to try to figure out what’s his best course now that he’s won the Nobel; his chief of staff said that he’d not ruled out a run in the future and then defined “future” as “after today”; Gore went online with three podcasts and described his positions on key campaign issues and, last week the National Nurses Movement endorsed one of the podcast positions. Gore then sent out a blast email bringing further attention to his podcasts, asking us to make our positions known as well.  

In 2002, this is how Al Gore said he was not running: "I've decided that I will not be a candidate for president in 2004," Gore told Lesley Stahl. "I personally have the energy and drive and ambition to make another campaign, but I don't think that it's the right thing for me to do." Here’s the link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/15/politics/main533080.shtml

In 2002, Gore specifically asked Monica Friedlander (draftgore.com) and Dylan Malone (algore.org) to stand down. Today, Monica is raising money for a national TV ad (to go with the full page NY Times ad) and Dylan is raising money to commission a national poll.  Neither has been asked by Gore to stand down. When we saw Al two weeks ago in Cupertino, he smiled and waved to us and simply thanked one of our volunteers (who happened to be wearing a “Gore 2008” T-Shirt).

Last Thursday, CBS came out with a poll that showed Al Gore in a virtual dead heat with Hillary Clinton in the hypothetical scenario of him entering the race. Both Obama and Edwards trailed significantly in this poll. More importantly, Gore polled 46% favorable and 29% unfavorable, compared to Clinton's 43% favorable and 41% unfavorable. Here is a link to the poll:  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/25/opinion/polls/printable3411229.shtml

Gore continues to run in the #1 position as a write in on the DFA straw poll re: who to endorse in the 2008 presidential race.

So where are we? None of the filing dates have passed; he has not given a “Sherman” or endorsed another candidate. He is still in the game and each and every one of us needs to do everything we can to help him make the decision. Everyone in California needs to collect signatures on the state's nomination papers to put him on the primary ballot. Support draftgore.com. Vote in the DFA poll if you haven’t. Do you want to leave the results of the 2008 general election to chance? Are you feeling confident that your candidate can (1) win the party nomination and (2) win in the general? Al Gore is the man for our times. He was right on the environment. He was right on the Internet. He was right on Iraq. And He is right for America. This election is so important to our generations and the generations to come. Together, by taking action now, we can inspire Al Gore to join the race. 

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