I've Seen America: If Al Gore Ran In 2008

[pericles]

[pericles]

GETTING STARTED 

Al Gore's speech at the Academy Awards​ 

Al Gore had won the Oscar. His An Inconvenient Truth documentary was being hailed across the spectrum. He had come back from his 2000 loss, so close and so hard. He was now hailed as a visionary and a leader in the fight against climate change. But there was another area in which there was still a role for Al Gore. He could have stayed out of politics. But America and the Democratic Party was looking to him. As he received his Oscar, he knew this was not just the end of his successful documentary, but the beginning of something much bigger. That decision had not been made without doubt and careful thought. Yet, it was the time. This was his moment. And so Albert Arnold 'Al' Gore Jr took the stage. As his speech began, Gore turned to the fateful words. Let's do this. "I formally announce my intention to..." the hall paused in anticipation "run for President of the United States!" Cheers and gasps erupted from the hall. "I'm running for many reasons, but foremost in my mind is that America has been let down by this administration. From Iraq to the North Pole, the world is in worse shape because of the Bush administration. I'm running because we need a leader who will revive this country. We need a leader who will take action on the pressing crisis of climate change, a crisis that while ignored by too many of our politicians poses a very serious threat to our planet. We need action and I know that I am up to the task. I am running because we need a fresh start for our country, a better America. We need change, and I am that candidate!"

Al Gore's ill-fated endorsement of Howard Dean​ 

Gore had had a hard time after his loss in 2000. He had been the winner of the popular vote, yet painfully he lost Florida by just 500 votes. He may have in fact won Florida were it not for the Supreme Court's controversial Bush v Gore decision ending the recount. To many Americans, especially Democrats, Gore was the true winner of the 2000 election. The former Vice-President shifted to the left afterwards, including being a vocal opponent of Bush's Iraq War. Gore also grew a beard and was in a funk. Bush became more popular after 9/11, while Gore was swimming against the tide. Gore flirted with another candidacy in 2004, but decided against it. When he declined to run in late 2002, polls show Bush would have beaten him by 20 points, and that he was unpopular with large segments of the electorate. Gore endorsed Howard Dean, the insurgent left-wing candidate in December 2003 for the Democratic primaries. When Dean bombed soon afterwards, Gore's endorsement looked like the wrong move, and that it may have hurt Dean more than it helped him. To most observers, it was clear that Al Gore's time was over. He was a has-been, a relic of the past. He had his chance and he blew it. The presidency seemed permanently closed to Al Gore.

Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' documentary did much to warn of the threat of climate change​ 

Al Gore found a new career. He had always been an environmentalist at heart, since 1976 he had been an advocate for the environment. Now, unshackled from politics, he was free to campaign for the issues he cared about. Gore's environmentalism had been ignored by the nation's top politicians. In the 1990s, when Vice-President Gore called on the Senate to pass the Kyoto Protocol to combat climate change they rejected it 95-0. The Bush administration was even worse, doing nothing to combat climate change and instead global warming accelerated dangerously fast. With no international cooperation or action on the issue, the politicians were like frogs in a boiling pot. Climate change, in Gore's view, needed a far bigger share of the political discourse. Gore took it upon himself to advance the cause. He made the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, warning of climate change and the consequences if the government and society did not change. It was released on may 24, 2006. The documentary was a big hit. It turned out to be the fourth highest grossing documentary in US history. Gore's clear message resonated with the public. And that led him to the Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. 

SNL's 'President' Al Gore​ 

At the same time, Americans were coming down with a case of buyer's remorse. By the time Gore announced his return to politics, President Bush's approval rating was in the mid to low 30s. A failed Social Security reform push, the bungled response to Hurricane Katrina, high gas prices and more weighed down on Bush. The main bugbear was the continuing war in Iraq, which four years after its initiation looked more hopeless than ever and still no WMDs had been found. America's reputation in the world was at all-time lows, and increasingly, voters thought the country was on the wrong track. And then there was Al Gore., The people's choice for President in 2000, his warnings about climate change and his opposition to the Iraq War looked prescient now. His criticism of the Bush administration, standing up to its policies far more than other Democrats like John Kerry and Hillary Clinton made him look to many voters as the leader America needed now. Democrats thought bitterly that under a President Gore climate change would have been combated, there would be no Iraq War, there'd still be a budget surplus and America would have avoided the disasters of W Bush. Even SNL did a skit with the real Al Gore, with 'President' Al Gore addressing the nation warning of the challenges ahead, how in their utopian future glaciers were on the attack, Afghanistan was a top holiday destination and American tourists couldn't go to Europe without getting hugged. What might have been. That thought put Gore back in contention for 2008.

Speculation of Gore 2008 rose heading into the 2008 primaries​ 

All this led to speculation that Al Gore would try another run. But Gore was reluctant. Tipper was too, though she refused to say never.[1] Gore was convinced, as late as the end of 2006, that politics was not for him anymore. Yet, many Democrats disagreed, and environmentalists, donors and party leaders made efforts to recruit Gore in the primaries. Polls showed Gore getting into double-digits, though he would face formidable competition. Hillary Clinton was running, and she was regarded as the frontrunner. Gore did not have warm feelings for the Clintons, feeling let down by them in the White House and disdained them as a melodramatic, cynical mess. He knew they would not be beaten easily. The prospect of a Hill-Bill restoration was not one Al Gore remotely enjoyed. Talking to advisers and party insiders, Gore got the sense that he had a path to victory, but it would be narrow. He could run as the liberal candidate, Hillary Clinton was weak with the base, and win the nomination from there. Iowa looked like it would be good, he'd won a landslide there in the 2000 primaries, while New Hampshire was more uncertain. Donna Brazile, his 2000 campaign manager, raised the historical precedent of Richard Nixon. Nixon had lost a bitterly close election, and he had made mistakes afterwards. At a low in 1964, Nixon reinvigorated himself with service to the party and his ideals, and when things went south for the Democrat administration Nixon saw the chance to make a comeback. He was nominated in 1968 relatively easily and won the general election. It could be done again. Potential candidate Senator Barack Obama of Illinois consulted with Gore to gauge his intentions. When Obama left, he thought This guy's actually gonna run. Both Obama and Al knew that an Obama candidacy would have little chance if Gore ran and so Obama would likely step aside this year if that happened. Gore wanted to run, but Tipper was still reluctant. It was a familiar trope in politics. But she came around. They'd done it twice before. Third time lucky. And so that's how Al Gore got to yes.



[1]This is the PoD, that Tipper and Al don't rule it out and they start to warm to the idea.

[pericles]

Thoughts-do you like it? stay tuned for more updates-coming soon!

[lordroel]

Jan 24, 2017 4:51:05 GMT pericles said:

Thoughts-do you like it? stay tuned for more updates-coming soon!

Wonder if he wins the Nobel prize for peace, would make him the only person in the world to have both a Oscar and a Nobel prize.

[pericles]

LIFTOFF 

Democratic presidential contender Al Gore speaking in Iowa​ 

The Democratic primary campaign started in earnest with Gore's entry into the race. Senator Obama of Illinois soon declined to run, leaving Gore open to take on Hillary Clinton. Hillary had announced a month earlier, and she was formidable for sure. Gore and Hillary shared a mutual antipathy to each other, it was only fitting that they would have to face off against each other. It was a crowded Democratic field that was emerging, but Gore and Hillary were the top dogs. There was also John Edwards, the slick North Carolinian who had been John Kerry's VP in 2004. Edwards performed well in Iowa, but he would struggle to win the nomination. The polls soon showed liftoff for Gore after his announcement. He soared in the polls, tying with Clinton in Iowa and getting into second in New Hampshire. A national poll on March 2 showed Clinton at 37%, Gore at 35%, Edwards at 10%, Joe Biden at 4%, Wesley Clark(not running) at 3%, Bill Richardson at 2% and Mike Gravel at 1%. The media, loving a competitive race and classic Clinton v Gore conflict, was digging it.

Gore's 2008 campaign was both a resurrection of his 2000 one, shown by his logo, and something new​ 

Gore began to assemble a campaign team. His old campaign manager from 2000, Donna Brazile, retook the helm. Much of Gore's old 2000 campaign team reassembled for the 2008 effort. There were some new faces too, with Kalee Kreider taking the role of communications director. David Axelrod became a strategist for the Gore campaign. With the organisation in place, the campaign strategy was planned. Iowa would be critical, it had given the Democrats their last two winning nominees and a win in the caucuses would give Gore momentum that could vault him to the nomination. The early states were absolutely critical, that was agreed in Goreland. Iowa would be heavily targeted. With many liberal activists and a process that depended on energizing voters and getting out the vote, Gore likely had the advantage over Clinton. Gore, unlike Clinton, also had experience in Iowa, and he had won the Iowa caucuses by a margin of over 25% in 2000, albeit against weak opposition. Neew Hampshire was more difficult, Gore had barely won the primary there in 2000 and it was more favorable to Clinton than Iowa. If he could win there or get a close second he'd be good. If he could win Iowa, he would be in good shape for the other early states. Nevada and Florida didn't look too hard. South Carolina he thought he could win too, but most likely it would go to Clinton, who was doing well with black voters. The black voters and the Clintons had a good relationship, while Gore had been Bill Clinton's VP Hillary Clinton was a Clinton herself. The strategy the team outlined was an Iowa win, strong showing in New Hampshire, win the other early states and then win on Super Tuesday and knock Clinton out of the race. They would win compete for the caucuses where they likely held the edge, but at the same time seek to win big states like California, Illinois and Massachusetts to destroy Clinton. The plan to do this was to run to the left of Clinton, against the Iraq War and using Gore's climate change activism as a launching pad. They would win the base with a campaign to the left of where they were in the primary, though much of that appeal to the base would be anti-Bush, the ultimate contrast, rather than policy-wise. That would win the primary and keep Gore viable for the general election, so this time he could really win the presidency.



Gore was getting big money. Donors from 2000 backed Gore, however others were skeptical. His 2000 campaign had been weak and had blown it, while Hillary Clinton didn't have that albatross around her neck. There were a whole lot of concerns about Gore that needed to be soothed. Was he too liberal? He's got high negatives, he's a weak candidate on the stump. Can he win swing voters? Is there a 'new Al Gore'? That last question was key. To win the establishment, Gore had to convince them there was a 'new Al Gore'. A charismatic Al Gore, who didn't rub people the wrong way and could appeal to voters. An Al Gore that could show warmth, energy and passion. Gore did get some establishment support already, including from those wary of the Clintons. On March 1, 2007, Tom Daschle endorsed Al Gore, saying "Al Gore is the leader we need, and he provides a brilliant contrast with the failure of the Bush administration." Gore performed well on the stump. His flaws were still all too visble, few of his speeches were memorable. But he did not let anything negative escape from his mouth and become memorable. There was no 'I invented the internet', and this time around Gore had a clear message. His message was that the bush administration had failed America and he was the leader that America needed to bring about change. He(and in that therefore not Hillary Clinton) had stood up to oppose the Bush administration, fight climate change and oppose the Iraq War. Gore sought to seize the mantle of change and declare a Gore presidency would bring the change America needed. As Senator Obama, who endorsed him in April, said "Al Gore is change, he is change we can believe in."

Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally in South Carolina​ 

Hillary Clinton was the biggest threat to Al Gore's bid for the White House. The two big dogs soon clashed head to head. Clinton sought to take the mantle of the change candidate herself, declaring that "Al Gore is the past. I am the candidate who will change America and take this country forward." The Clintons also clashed with Gore's assertion that he had been key to the prosperity of the 1990s, when Gore said in an interview on March 23 "I would like to correct the record and remind you that in the 1990s when my policies and agenda were implemented the economy was booming and I was integral to that achievement in my role as Vice-President. I think we need to build on that example and move forwrad from it." Bill Clinton said in an interview "i don't think Al took too much of a role in the administration, certainly not compared to Hillary. Vice-Presidents aren't that important, and you see Hillary was far more important, it was called Hillarycare after all, not Gorecare." Gore fired back "Hillary Clinton's record, in my view, is flawed. She voted for the Iraq War, she supported it and I opposed it. That was her decision, and her judgement. But I have to say, it was the wrong decision, it as bad judgement." Gore and Hillary had a similar healthcare plan, both pushing for a similar version of Hillarycare from the 1990s. Gore however attacked Clinton's leadership of the Hillarycare effort in the 1990s, saying "When Hillary tried to pass healthcare reform in the 1990s, it failed. And we need a President who can not just lay out lofty goals but accomplish them. Looking at her record, Hillary would not be that President." The primary was set to get more heated as spring went to summer and the debates started. Hillary had the edge in the polls, a poll on April 18 had Clinton at 39%, Gore at 29%, Edwards at 21%, Biden at 2%, Richardson at 2% and Kucinich at 1%. Yet, Gore had liftoff. Gore 2008 was up and running, and they looked good in the states they needed to win. Iowa especially was taking a shine to Gore 2008. They could pull this thing off yet.

[stevep]

Jan 24, 2017 4:51:05 GMT pericles said:

Thoughts-do you like it? stay tuned for more updates-coming soon!

  Yes.  Looks good.  Will you take it beyond the election itself?  That would be very interesting.

[pericles]

Jan 24, 2017 22:18:31 GMT stevep said:

Jan 24, 2017 4:51:05 GMT pericles said:

Thoughts-do you like it? stay tuned for more updates-coming soon!

  Yes.  Looks good.  Will you take it beyond the election itself?  That would be very interesting.

Yes I do though I won't say where it goes as that will be a spoiler.

[pericles]

FEELING THE HEAT 

As spring turned to summer, Al Gore's candidacy came under renewed fire​ 

Al Gore had his initial bounce, but now the wear of campaigning set in again. Gore faced intensified scrutiny of his record and platform. An Inconvenient Truth came under fire by Republicans, who argued it was inaccurate and a ploy to boost Gore's chances for the presidency. Republican Senator Jim Inhofe compared it to Mein Kampf, saying "If you say the same lie over and over again, and particularly if you have the media's support, people will believe it," Inhofe said, adding that he thought Gore was trying to use the issue to run for president again in 2008. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney said "I think it was not entirely truthful, it is informative but there are inaccuracies and we're seeing Al Gore is trying to use this for his own political purposes." Democrats were overall supportive of Gore on the issue, however Hillary Clinton saw an opportunity to target Gore, saying "There are concerns that Al was loose with the truth and some of the stuff in there I don't think was helpful to the cause of fighting climate change, and I think he is trying to use this for his own political purposes." Gore attacked her on that, declaring "She sounded like a climate change denier." Clinton took offense to that statement, firing back that Gore should "Quit smearing my record." Gore's 2000 campaign came under attack, with John Edwards saying in Iowa that Gore "ran a terrible campaign, his failure gave us George W Bush, and I think it reflects very badly on him." Gore's campaign insisted that Gore had learned from his mistakes and was a better candidate because of them, but that had yet to be proven. To Gore's surprise, his personal life also came under scrutiny, with the National Enquirer headlining "Gore Marriage on the Rocks!" Al and Tipper Gore dismissed the article as "tabloid trash" and Al Gore said "My marriage has never been stronger."

Hillary Clinton at a primary debate. She performed well on the debate stage, and often clashed with Gore.​ 

The debate season back in the summer. Clinton and Gore met on the same stage. Al Gore was knowledgeable on the stage, he had an undoubted mastery of the issues. He was more effective than many in the media thought he would be, getting across clear and concise points and sticking to a clear message. Clinton was very good too, on message, mastering the issues and talking points. The two clashed on the debate stage. Gore attacked Clinton on her vote for the Iraq War, saying "Senator Clinton showed a profound lack of good judgement or principles, she went right along with George W Bush and the neocons, while I was out there opposing the war in Iraq." Clinton fired back "We wouldn't be in Iraq if you had run a competent campaign in 2000. We wouldn't be in Iraq if you had been a good candidate and had stopped George W Bush." Gore interrupted "I won the popular vote!" "And we need a candidate who can win so we can accomplish our goals." Gore replied back "I won the popular vote in 2000, and I can build on that experience to win in 2008." Clinton replied "You're asking us to trust you-" "And when we win, we need a leader who has the courage and principles to stand by our goals and accomplish them, and not to yield to the Republicans as you did on Iraq. I can win, and I have a national record unlike Senator Clinton. To try to steal the mandate of electability won't work Senator, because when you're polled against the Republicans you aren't performing spectacularly. And so it's an important point that we elect a leader who stands by our principles and values even when the going gets tough." Gore also tried to paint himself as a job creator, and said "I have spent my career building up American technology and innovation. We need to invest more in our technology and innovation, including renewable energy. I have a plan to create good-paying jobs in this country and on this stage I am the candidate who can bring this country forward into the 21st century." Clinton said she was the real job creator, trying to take credit for the prosperity of the 1990s and implicitly say that she, not Gore, should be credited for it. The two also clashed over who should be the change candidate, Clinton argued that Al Gore was "a relic of the past" while Gore argued he would be "the ultimate break with the failure of this administration." In the debates Clinton performed well, getting her points across, Gore was domineering but too aggressive for many, others argued he performed well on the debate stage. The media narrative soon put the candidates in their boxes. Gore was the liberal candidate, Hillary was the establishment candidate and Edwards was the outsider running on bold ideas.

 

Gore hits the campaign trail in Iowa​ 

Gore was getting more and more support from big players in the party. The Clinton machine was formidable, but not invulnerable. Several Democratic Senators endorsed Gore in the summer. Claire McCaskill of Missouri was one. In August, Gore got a useful endorsement, when progressive hero Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold endorsed Gore, praising his 'courageous' opposition to the Iraq War. That same month 2004 nominee John Kerry endorsed Al Gore, rebuffing his own running mate from 204. Big money was flowing into the Gore coffers, enabling them to fund a national campaign operation to rival Clinton's. But lingering doubts remained about Gore, including his own weaknesses on the stump and his baggage from the past. Voters were also wary of the Clinton-Gore war, both candidates had baggage from the 1990s and drama that many did not want to replay. Indeed in the summer the biggest beneficiary in the polls was not Gore or Clinton but John Edwards, who snagged a lead in Iowa polls. A Des Moines register poll showed Gore at third place, 6 behind Edwards and 2 behind Clinton. That result would be disastrous and kill his campaign. Gore was determined not to let it happen.



Clinton was also solidifying her lead nationally and in key states. Several members of Gore's campaign team expressed concern they were writing off black voters to Clinton. A new poll showed Clinton leading Gore with black voters 48-28. The Iowa strategy was concerning, Clinton was leading in New Hampshire, Florida and South Carolina. Gore remained convinced that if he could get a win in Iowa he could get a win elsewhere too. Clinton was leading with women, understandable but the size of her lead was concerning. Focus groups showed Gore had high negatives, while they thought of him as the guy who should have won in 2000, that didn't mean they thought he was the guy who should win in 2008. His progressive bona fides and climate change activism were admired, but there were doubts about his ability to win a general election. Hillary's argument that he was a relic of the past was also sinking in, and many felt that he was a throwback to the past, while Clinton was in fact the change candidate with a vision for the future. At the same time they were still open to Gore if he could prove his ability to win and there was distrust of Hillary Clinton and 'Clinton fatigue' lying just below the surface. "We have work to do" Donna Brazile told Gore "Let's do it".

[stevep]

Jan 24, 2017 22:30:36 GMT pericles said:

Jan 24, 2017 22:18:31 GMT stevep said:

  Yes.  Looks good.  Will you take it beyond the election itself?  That would be very interesting.

Yes I do though I won't say where it goes as that will be a spoiler.

  Oh you mean where he becomes dictator and triggers thermo-nuclear war?    Seriously looking forward to seeing what develops.  He seems to be struggling against Clinton at the moment but presume that will change.

[lordroel]

Jan 25, 2017 15:58:38 GMT stevep said:

Jan 24, 2017 22:30:36 GMT pericles said:

Yes I do though I won't say where it goes as that will be a spoiler.

  Oh you mean where he becomes dictator and triggers thermo-nuclear war?    Seriously looking forward to seeing what develops.  He seems to be struggling against Clinton at the moment but presume that will change.

Worse what we have right now in the Oval Office it can not be, i hoop.

[pericles]

THE FALL OF HILLARY 

 

Al Gore accepts the Nobel Peace Prize​ 

Al Gore received an unexpected gift on October 12, 2007. The Nobel Committee awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in fighting climate change, linking it to peace by warning that climate change would be a destabilizing force that would encourage and exacerbate conflict globally. It said that "Al Gore has for a long time been one of the world’s leading environmentalist politicians", and described him as "probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted." In conclusion, it said the Nobel Committee was "seeking to contribute to a sharper focus on the processes and decisions that appear to be necessary to protect the world’s future climate, and thereby to reduce the threat to the security of mankind. Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man’s control." It was a major boost for Gore, who had the focus on his strengths and had an award he could use not just for his activism but also for his presidential bid. The Nobel committee's decision was not without controversy, with Republicans rejecting their rationale that climate change meant Gore deserved the prize, and other Democratic contenders arguing it was an inappropriate interference in their election. It gave Gore an unprecedented boost, and it was reflected in the polls. New national polls showed him rising several points in the polls, some even had him tied with Clinton and in Iowa Gore snagged a slight lead. And that was before the debate.

 

Hillary Clinton wilted in the October 2007 debate​ 

Hillary Clinton hoped the debate on October 30 would end Gore's 'Nobel bounce'. However, instead she took a battering. She was the frontrunner of the race, just. Going onto that stage, the other candidates smelled blood in the water. They went for her like sharks, to deal a mortal blow. In the first question, Gore was asked about his statement that Hillary 'talks like a Republican on foreign policy'. Gore replied "I have to say, I think that is correct. She voted for the war in Iraq and for George W Bush's foreign policy. And now she tries to waffle on her positions. But she does talk like a Republican and I have to say, she just doesn't show the courage necessary to make the change we need and reverse the failure of this administration." When Hillary said "I am the change candidate" Gore interrupted " No, you're not. Hillary Clinton is a candidate the Republicans would love to take on. And if she wins, we will see more gridlock and partisanship in Washington, not less. We'll see classic scandals and half-truths and we won't get the real change we need, the change that can reverse the failure of this administration, the change that can end the rise of the oceans and end the rise of inequality in our society. We won't get a peaceful, prosperous America for all Americans under Hillary Clinton. We will under me." The kicker came in the final minutes of the debate. Clinton was asked on New York Governor Spitzer's plan to give driver's licences to illegal immigrants. She pivoted towards the need for comprehensive immigration reform, and then said "I did not say it should be done, but I recognise why Governor Spitzer is trying to do it." Chris Dodd interrupted "Wait a minute! You said yes, you thought it made sense to do it." Clinton tried to duck "No I didn't, Chris." The stage erupted into argument, and then Tim Russert asked Clinton simply if she supported Spitzer's plan or not. Clinton continued to speak, but no answer on the question. Her attempts to duck, weave and pivot were unravelling in real-time. Gore smiled, watching her struggle. "It was a simple question, Senator. Are you for it or against it? If you can't give us a simple answer to a simple question, how can we trust you?" Gore knew he had won the debate. Now he got to sit back and watch the media fallout as Clinton's answer was relitigated and her campaign still struggled to respond.

  

Gore rallies with cheering supporters in Iowa after a strong performance at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner​ 

The Jefferson-Jackson dinner was a long tradition in Democratic Party politics. It was a fundraising event for the Iowa Democratic Party. The more tickets the campaigns bought, the more supporters they could bring. Gore's organisations for the JJ Dinner outmatched Clinton's. They recognized the dinner's importance, and beat the Clinton team to it, snatching the prime seats at the dinner. Clinton gave a forceful speech, vowing to "turn up the heat on Republicans and Washington special interests. Let's turn up the heat and bring change to America!" Gore's was better. He gave a speech even his harshest detractors begrudgingly admitted was charismatic. "We see a world that needs changing. We see a world on fire, a world where special interests the taken over our government, a world where our planet is going off the brink. And we think, we must do better. We can't afford to be half-hearted about the problems we face. We need solutions. And we see a world that needs changing, and we go and change it. We get out and vote! We remove the special interests and those who have failed us. And we get change we can believe in! Your vote will change the world. We can usher in a new, brighter era for our country. Who's ready to vote for it!" The crowd cheered. Al Gore had done it. The fall of 2007 may well turn out to be the fall of Hillary Clinton. And Al Gore was coming back.

[lordroel]

Jan 25, 2017 19:30:44 GMT pericles said:

Al Gore received an unexpected gift on October 12, 2007. The Nobel Committee awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in fighting climate change, 

And now he is the only person ever to have won a Oscar and a Nobel prize.

[pericles]

Jan 25, 2017 19:38:22 GMT lordroel said:

Jan 25, 2017 19:30:44 GMT pericles said:

Al Gore received an unexpected gift on October 12, 2007. The Nobel Committee awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in fighting climate change, 

And now he is the only person ever to have won a Oscar and a Nobel prize.

Ah yes but that is OTL. Like this TL so far? Predictions?

[pericles]

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN 

Al Gore speaks to New Hampshire voters on the campaign trail​ 

As the campaign headed into the final stretch before the Iowa caucuses, former Vice-President Al Gore had the edge. October seemed to have been the moment when Al Gore found his voice. The Clinton campaign decided to up the ante, and go negative on Al Gore. Clinton began running attack ads against Gore from mid-November. One ad characterized Gore as a "fraud", "representative of the past", "deceiving Iowa voters." Other ads sought to amplify Gore's high negatives. Polls showed Gore's favorability ratings with the general electorate were not that great, a poll taken on December 1 showed 50% of Americans viewed him favorably and 45% viewed him unfavorably. Clinton tried to keep a positive tone in her speeches, while new ads from her campaign attacked Gore and the idea that he represented change. Gore wasn't going to take this lying down. Gore fired back, attacking Hillary Clinton, declaring that she "represents wish-washy, flip-flopping, dirty politics." However, Gore's fear was that if he and Clinton were both dragged into the mud, voters would defect from them both and John Edwards would win Iowa. Gore instead sought to subtly draw out contrasts with Clinton. As he hit the trail, he boasted that he had opposed the Iraq War, unlike Clinton, and would combat climate change. Gore also began to exploit her own personal vulnerabilities, and reminded voters that he had no scandals, unlike the Clintons. Gore said on December 12 "If I win, my administration won't be tied down by scandal. We will be a no-drama administration that gets the job done." This time maybe, Clinton fatigue would be real.

Senator Hillary Clinton takes questions from Iowa voters​ 

The two campaigns competed for the endorsement of the Des Moines Register. The Register's endorsement had been an important event in past Iowa campaigns, and it looked to be again this year. The Register had a liberal tilt, and was considered likely to go for Gore. Clinton's campaign put in an effort to sway them regardless, led by Tom Vilsack. Gore's campaign also courted The Register, putting in much effort to lock in the endorsement. To their delight, The Register announced it was endorsing Gore, saying "The man who should have, and may well have, won in 2000 should win in 2008. Al Gore has the leadership and vision to bring real change to America." It provided the Gore campaign with a boost and helped seal liberal support in Iowa. Polls in Iowa and nationwide showed a close race. A nationwide primary poll on December 17 put Clinton at 36%, 32% Gore ,John Edwards at 17%. 3% Joe Biden, 2% Bill Richardson, 2% Dennis Kucinich. Gore meanwhile had a lead in Iowa, and it looked like that lead was widening in the final days before the caucus.

Democratic Party presidential contender John Edwards campaigns ahead of the Iowa caucuses​ 

Gore's lead was not safe though. Hillary Clinton was losing momentum in Iowa, but a new threat, in candidate John Edwards. emerged. Gore was dismissive of Edwards, viewing him as 'delusional' and 'an empty suit'. Still, there were fears in the Gore campaign that the North Carolinian was making a late surge, as he had in 2004. If the two frontrunners proved too much of a turnoff, Edwards hoped to snatch an upset victory. In the eyes of the media Iowa was lean Gore but either Edwards or Clinton could still pull out a victory. On December 18, Edwards was hit with a bombshell as The National Enquirer alleged that he had fathered a child in an affair with a woman named Rielle Hunter. The Edwards campaign quickly shot down the story, with Edwards aide Andrew Young coming forward as the father. It looked as if Edwards still had a chance. The Gore campaign's internal polls showed a Gore lead, with Gore at 31%. Edwards at 27% and Clinton at 26%. However, the trendlines were moving in the wrong direction. While Clinton was stagnant, Edwards was rising. Gore remained confident he would win, telling Tipper "We're gonna pull this thing off." The Gore campaign's operation on the ground was the best, and with Iowa's caucus system that could be the deciding factor. The Register released its much vaunted poll a few days before the caucuses. Gore was at 33%, Edwards was at 26% and Clinton at 26%.



The results were coming in and they were looking good for Al Gore. It wasn't particularly close. Gore was soon giving his victory speech. "Tonight, you voted for change" Gore said "to turn the page on this failed administration and bring in a new direction for our country. Let's go win this election!"

Iowa caucuses-Democratic

Al Gore-37% 16 delegates

Hillary Clinton-30% 15 delegates

John Edwards-30% 14 delegates



It was a resounding victory for Al Gore. And now it was onto New Hampshire, and hopefully the White House.





​

[lordroel]

Jan 25, 2017 23:35:36 GMT pericles said:

Jan 25, 2017 19:38:22 GMT lordroel said:

And now he is the only person ever to have won a Oscar and a Nobel prize.

Ah yes but that is OTL. Like this TL so far? Predictions?

It is good.