Gore: I am no 'Boss Tweed'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/03/31/art.gore.gi.jpg caption="Gore said Sunday he does not anticipate getting involved in the presidential race."]
(CNN) - His name continues to get mentioned as a Democratic elder who could hammer out a resolution in his party's deadlocked presidential race, but former Vice President Al Gore said Sunday he's not interested in the job.
"I'm trying to stay out of it," the former vice president said on CBS' "60 Minutes" of the prolonged race for the White House.
"I'm not applying for the job of broker," he also said when pressed about the possibility he will be one of the few neutral Democrats who could sit Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton down together.
The comments follow increased speculation that Gore, the party's 2000 presidential nominee, may be called to forge a compromise between the two candidates, or even appear on the top of the presidential ticket himself.
In the interview Sunday, Gore laughed off that role as a modern day 'Boss Tweed.'
But last week, Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney of Florida suggested Gore, the party’s 2000 presidential nominee, could assume the role of a compromise candidate if neither Clinton nor Obama could reach a deal themselves.
"If it goes into the convention, don’t be surprised if someone different is at the top of the ticket,” he told a Florida newspaper, adding Gore could be that choice.
Gore shrugged off that suggestion: "I doubt very seriously that I'll ever be a candidate again," he said. Though in a CNN interview last December, Gore said if he did make a return as a candidate, it would only be as a candidate for president
But Gore isn't staying out of politics completely. The former vice president also announced Sunday he's funding a massive, bipartisan ad campaign to raise awareness on global warming. The $300 million venture, funded largely by profits from his Oscar-winning film "An Inconvenient Truth" and the cash component from his Nobel Peace Prize, will feature political rivals jointly calling for action on the climate crisis.
"Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich, two people who don't agree on very much at all...are doing an ad together" Gore explained. Reverends Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson will also appear together, among others.
TIME.com: Is Al Gore the answer?
- CNN's Alexander Mooney and Peter Lanier
If awareness on global warming is bipartisan, that's news to me.
Great Job Mr. Gore but you ain't supposed to be President. I'm glad you know it and I hope the Democrats get their act together.
Hillary isn't going to win but you can't tell her that........let her stay in and if Obama loses (The Clintons will be to blame).
"What made you vote for Bush in 2000? I really and sincerely want to know."
FEAR of AL Gore.
Thanks for your consideration Mr. Al Gore.
I believe Senator Obama should be our next President, however he need your help.
Mr. Gore, support Change in Washington. Support Senator Barack Obama.
If neither Hillary nor Obama can get the nomination in a manner that will make a Democratic victory a real possibility, Al Gore would be an excellent Democratic nominee. Gore received more popular votes that did W Bush in 2000 and furthermore, now that the disaster of the W Bush Presidency is self evident, Al Gore could would very likely win the Presidency (especially if the votes in Florida are truly counted).
Boss Tweed? What does he have to do with it?!
Al is losing it. Aside from comments like these, just look at him – his eyes are glazed over, his mouth is screwed into something approaching the Grinch's sneer, and his beard fanatics really say it all.
A vote for Obama is a Vote for McCain. Hillary all the way to the convention. No Bama in 08 or 12 for that matter. He is now exposed and falling apart. Can't wait till November to vote for McCain.
So now Obama is trying to "steal" the election (from some of your posts). What "reality" are you living in?? Whether it was a good decision or not, the DNC made their rules about FL and MI. The candidates signed off on it. Now Hillary wants to BREAK THE RULES.
It is Hillary who is trying to "steal" the election, people. Get a grip, you Clintonistas!!!
What deadlocked race? Obama leads Hill in pledged delegates and popular votes. It's impossible for her to overtake him. The only thing standing in the way of the voice of the people is the superdelegate question.
Good for Gore. If only Richardson would have showed such integrity.
YES, YES, YES. – Gore is the answer.
Democratic party, meet end of the line.
Congrats Hillary. You'll get John McCain elected in 2008 and that sets it up for you to run again in 2012. Doesn't matter that your plan is a self serving disater. It only matters that you'll get your way.
Hillary and her supporters can't keep up with their own logic since it changes so fast.
It's both hilariously funny and profoundly sad.
I don't blame All at all. The democrats have never had a unified party. You have one Democratic senator who is backing a Republican candidate and Dems have never stood together as the Republicans have. STAY in the race Hilary!
Educated people are for Obama. Women are for Hillary.
Oh, Oh, I am a educated woman for Obama 2008. I hate lies.
You got to be a real moron to ask that question again...
please just support someone
The Dems need a leader. Someone who has the respect, the courage and the knowledge to step forward. Personally, I haven't a clue who that should be. In the last two Presidential elections I didn't see anyone of the older Dems showing any strength.
Gore,
the man that knowningly and deliberately used misleading information in his "global warming documentary" 17 times as ruled by the British courts.
also the man that mindless liberals, ranting on about how Bush misled them, breathlessly want to lead them.
priceless..
Where is Michelle Obama? Not very first lady like hinding since the Wright scandal. I think I know why, she was in church listening.
I consider Al Gore my hero. Thank you Mr. Gore for the work u r doing to save the environment. I think I am going to respect u more for not taking sides between Obama and Clinton. Because some of these fools asking Hillary to step down have their own agenda. We donot need a rock star but a worker we can believe in.
After all that Hillary has said against her own party's candidate,
Obama would never be working under Hillary, or vice versa.
It just will never happen. Hillary has been a traitor to her own party!!!
Doesn't it seem strange that millions of Americans are throwing their support to a candidate they don't even know?
Obama/Gore?!?! Are you kidding me? I tasted throw-up in my mouth when I read that. You Obama people are REALLY turning into a bunch of jesus freaks.
When McCain Wins this whole thing we will have Obama and his CULT to blame!