With Clinton Weakening, Gang of Four Ready to Pounce
Posted on February 2, 2008
Filed Under Democratic Primary, Gang of Four
The Gang of Four, a quartet of influential and rabidly anti-Clinton Democrats, are waiting for the perfect time to drive a stake through the heart of Hillary Clinton’s presidential ambitions. The question is, with 72 hours to go before the Super Tuesday primaries, is time slipping away? The cadre—Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, and John Kerry—has vowed personally and collectively to do whatever necessary to keep the nomination from Clinton, each possessing compelling reasons to revile the former First Lady.  Kennedy and Gore have long hated the centrist ground staked out by Bill and Hillary, and were disgusted with the Senator’s support for the war in Iraq. Gore further resented the Clinton’s lack of support in his own presidential campaign of 2000, feeling crucial democratic resources were diverted to Hillary’s New York Senate campaign in that same year. As for Dean, it is well known that Bill Clinton worked feverishly behind the scenes in keeping fellow democrats from supporting Dean’s candidacy. Fearing that a Kerry win in ‘04 would choke off any opportunity for Hillary to run in ‘08, Clinton provided little support for that campaign as well, incensing John Kerry, and perhaps making the difference in George Bush’s razor like win that year. Obama’s campaign gained significant momentum when Ted Kennedy, on the heels of Obama’s sweeping victory in South Carolina, joined Kerry in endorsing the candidate.  Dean and Kerry Gore have held their preference close to the vest thus far.  As chairman of the DNC, Dean’s work in promoting an Obama candidacy would likely be done behind the scenes leaving it to Gore, whose endorsement could truly define this race.   The buzz in political circles is that Gore is waiting to see if Obama wins Super Tuesday and will then endorse, perhaps driving the final nail in Hillary’s coffin. Our question is, why wait? If Gore endorses, it could provide the final burst of momentum to insure an Obama win Tuesday. Recent polls show that Obama has closed the gap to 4 points. Can he make up the balance in the remaining hours? With Gore’s help it would be more likely.   Go for it Al.
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Comments
35 Responses to “With Clinton Weakening, Gang of Four Ready to Pounce”
Gore wants to wait for that moment when his endorsement will have the most powerful effect.
There are suggestions that Obama needs to come within 50 delegates of Clinton for Tuesday to be a “win”. If at that point, Gore delivered an endorsement it could shift crucial momentum to Obama for those primaries in the coming weeks, but wouldn’t he have more momentum if he swept the Super Tuesday primaries? A Gore endorsement now could make that a reality.
Gore won’t endorse because he is going to jump into the race himself.
Doubtful. Gore is loving his role as “elder statesman” and wants to focus his energies on what he sees as the seminal issue of our time - global warming. Besides, there is too much infrastructure building, fund raising, and work on the grass roots level to be done at this point to launch a successful campaign. Look at the difficulties Fred Thompson faced by jumping in late. If Gore was going to enter he would have done it months ago.
Gore is a fat liar. Look what his endorsement did to Howard Dean in 2004. Obama should hope Gore stays far away creating things like the internet.
Uh, Kerry already endorsed Obama!
Dean can’t, he’s chairman of the DNC.
Kennedy has too, leaving only Gore left. And somehow I doubt he will…unless there’s a surprise superbowl commercial!
Gore? who cares? Kerry? who cares? Dean? really, who cares? Ted Kennedy? no one ever cared. All of these wanna be’s are a sad commentary for the democratic party.
“Dean and Kerry have held their preference close to the vest thus far, but it is Gore’s endorsement that could truly define this race.”
Dean maybe, Kerry endorsed Obama a long time ago and has been campaigning for him.
Balderdash. People support Obama because he is a better person and a better candidate. With their policies so close it would be foolish - for many, many reasons - to send Hillary forth as the nominee.
Al Gore’s endorsement could be a death blow for the Clinton’s. An announcement tomorrow would have the most dramatic impact so we should stay tuned. And unlike his endorsement of Dean in Iowa, Gore’s political clout and influence has been renewed with iTruth and the Nobel Peace prize. This would be especially so in progressive-minded California.
This is one of the web’s most interesting stories on Sun 3rd Feb 2008…
These are the web’s most talked about URLs on Sun 3rd Feb 2008. The current winner is …..
Who cares about Gore’s endorsement!!! Obama can win the democratic ticket by himself and then lose the final Republican ticket.
“The cadre—Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, and John Kerry—has vowed personally and collectively to do whatever necessary to keep the nomination from Clinton”
When and where? Do you have any proof of this? It is precisely unsubstantiated claims like this that make the mass media a source of disinformation, and I am disappointed to see others following their lead.
Oh, a Gore-internet joke. How clever.
[...] neutral and not burning any political bridges so he can be picked as VP by either Obama or Clinton?read more | digg [...]
The public’s perception about Al Gore, especially among Democrats, is much different than it used to be. Al Gore is a beloved figure, and you’d have to be crazy to think his endorsement would do anything other than help at this point in time.
Quick correction: Kerry hasn’t kept his preference lose to the vest, he has endorsed Obama weeks ago. I doubt Dean will endorse anyone because of his function within the party. As for Gore - we’ll have to wait and see …
“Dean and Kerry have held their preference close to the vest thus far”
Kerry endorsed Obama early in January - http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/kerry-to-endorse-obama/
1) John Kerry endorsed Obama a while back. Maybe you meant Gore is keeping it close to his chest?
2) Howard Dean, being the DNC chair, won’t endorse anyone.
3) Howard Dean died after Iowa without any need for Bill Clinton’s meddling.
Gore has every reason to stay out of the race so that he can push the issue closest to his heart. Short of an anti-science candidate being selected for either party, don’t expect an endorsement.
Kerry endorsed Obama weeks ago, going on to campaign for him and supply Obama with his extensive donor list.
The biggest issue here (aside from missing readily available news) is the specious claim that these four “vowed personally and collectively to do whatever necessary to keep the nomination from Clinton.” Maybe they have issues with Clinton, but there is no proof of anything along the lines of a “vow.”
Ummm…Kerry already endorsed Obama..
Does it really matter who wins the Democratic primary? Of course not!
The country is not ready for a liberal, inexperienced black man to be president; neither will it accept a female who needs (a) to cry for attention (b) her husband to stick up for her.
As usual, the Republicans will win because the Democrats will not offer anyone viable!
Al Gore’s endorsment has much more weight this year, than years past. He has redefined himself as a visionary. I may or may not agree with it, but he has shifted public opinion. I’ve never seen it put more plainly a case for why each one would not endorse Hillary, and I think that they have every reason in the world to not endorse her. You can’t burn bridges and then expect someone to be the one to build it back. Too bad, but true.
First thing is that endorsments do not mean anything. They never have. People do not listen to what famous celebrities and politicians have to say when it comes to picking a candidate. Secondly if gore picked a candidate to endorse it would be when the leader was a little clearer. Gore wants to get certain things done he cant do that by alienating himself from someone who could still win the election.
My bad. Meant to say Dean and Gore have held there preferences close to the vest. Kennedy joined Kerry this week in endorsing Obama leaving it up to Gore. And yes, while Dean won’t come out with an actual endorsement, he can work behind the scenes to promote an Obama candidacy. The point of the piece was about what Gore would do and what impact it would have.
I think at this point, it’s too late for a Gore endorsement to have any real effect on “Super Tuesday.” He would have needed to endorse Obama after South Carolina. Gore’s most influential in California, New York–amongst the “elites” and some of the rank and file upper middle class democrats that truly care about the environment. He’s not as strong amongst blue collar democrats. He probably could have really helped Obama in California and the northeast. One or two days isn’t nearly enough for him to do anything to help obama outside of the headline “Gore endorses Obama”
His endorsement could possibly help if Obama doesn’t do as well on super tuesday as he expects. It’d show that the establishments still likes him. I think Gore could also help if this goes the convention without a clear front runner, and it’s up to the delegates to decide there. The combination of Dean, Kerry, Kennedy, and Gore could probably turn the tide in Obama’s favor should it come to that.
Great article!
Here are the holes I find in this article:
Gore did not ask for Clinton’s help when he ran for president - he did not want to be associated with Clinton.
Kerry could not have won at any cost - he lost it himself.
Stop blaming Clinton for everything.
The article states that the source of Gore’s resentment stemmed from the siphoning of democratic resources towards Hillary’s senate campaign. In addition, it is mere speculation that Gore did not want to be associated with Clinton. It has never been stated publicly exactly what assistance was asked for and thus received. Any claim that Clinton was willing to help, but Gore wanted no part is fiction and revisionist. It has been reported in several outlets over the years how Gore resented diversion of key resources. I was not a Kerry fan, but to say he couldn’t have won at any cost is just silly. The margin was razor thin. Anything could have turned that race. You don’t think Clinton’s support could have made the difference of a few hundred votes in Ohio? Not blaming Clinton for everything or anything, merely stating that there are those that have grievances with him and his wife. Whether they are legitimate is for someone else to decide.
Gore’s endorsement of Dean was the trigger for a whole host of forces that targeted him (and, it may be argued, arranged for the story of the direct microphone feed of his cheer-leading of his supporters to become the famous ‘Dean Scream’).
Dean, as many have noted, can’t endorse anyone because he’s head of the DNC. What if the person he endorsed didn’t win enough delegates? That would be disastrous.
There are others who Obama can get to endorse him (Oprah doesn’t hurt), as well as a host of people more under the radar than Gore. When Gore weighs in, the candidate that receives his endorsement better get ready for the full onslaught of Republican Swift-Boating, et. al.
With Clinton Weakening, Gang of Four Ready to Pounce | CommentURL.com…
squirmelicious.com
Is Al Gore readying an endorsement of Barak Obama? The Gang of Four–Al Gore,…
Squirm,
Any speculation on why the Kennedys parted ways with the Clintons? I’ve been wondering what’s been going on in the back rooms, maybe the grabs for Michigan and Florida delegates p’od Teddy and the gang.
Squirmel,
Way great post. I cross-posted it, too. Question: why do you think the Kennedy family broke with the Clintons? They had a long alliance; obvious answer would be to gain distance from a sinking ship, but there may be a more specific burr than that.
The Gang of Four - Let’s see…
Ted Kennedy
John Kerry
Al Gore
Howard Dean
What do these four have in common - other than being old white men? They have all run FAILED Presidential bids. They can’t stand a thought of a woman taking office when they couldn’t do it themselves!
Misogynists.
Kennedy and Clinton have long been foes dating all the way back to Bill Clinton’s chairmanship of the DLC in 1990. The DLC was formed to steer the the Democratic party away from the old guard populist wing towards a more centrist philosophy. Kennedy represented the wing that the DLC (and Clinton) sought to weaken, putting him at odds with Clinton. DLC positions include welfare reform, support for the war in Iraq, Triangulation, etc. Kennedy sees these as essentially Republican positions and thus hates the direction Clinton has taken the party.