A different landscape as Gore ponders future

September 27, 2001 Posted: 2:15 AM EDT (0615 GMT)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Al Gore faces a political landscape that has shifted dramatically and a world shaken by terrorism as he prepares to step back into the limelight.

On Saturday, Gore is scheduled to address the biggest annual fund-raising event in a state where the presidential nominating season begins. State Democratic Party officials say they're going forward with the event despite the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and some said Gore could add to public understanding of terrorism.

"Gore knows national security like few other people," said Chicago political consultant David Axelrod. "If he goes there and speaks softly about terrorism and the national interest, it could be interesting. He could exhort people to support the president and that would be helpful."

The event comes as Gore begins raising his profile after his agonizingly narrow loss of the White House. Now he must deal not only with a nation focused on anything but politics, but a party that isn't ready to concede the nomination to him.

"If he is going to run again, he is going to have to win a nomination," said Jeff Link. "It's not going to be handed to him."

Link, a former top aide to Sen. Tom Harkin, ran Gore's campaign in the state last year, and has maintained ties since the election.

Paulee Lipsman, a veteran activist who was a big Gore backer in the last campaign, said Democrats look at Gore cautiously. "People invested a lot of time, money and effort in that campaign. You don't do that again unless there's some assurance that something is going to be different."

The doubts come as Gore raises his profile in the state where precinct caucuses launch the presidential nominating season. Since his loss, Gore has been low key, appearing at select campaign events and putting together a training academy for activists.

Gore is the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, a prized forum before thousands of the state's most active Democrats. The event is shaping up as a far different one than the traditional, hotly partisan, bash-the-Republicans evening.

"I don't think this is a time when rip-roaring partisan attacks will be well received," said Axelrod.

The political message Gore offers is less important than his presence. Few expect him to send any overt signals about his intentions to run again, but making an appearance in Iowa is a statement by itself.

Gore has a long history in the state. When he sought the Democratic nomination on his own in 1999 and 2000, Gore built a solid organization in Iowa and overwhelmingly defeated former Sen. Bill Bradley in the caucuses.

But Gore has lost some advantages he had last time. Most of the major power brokers in the Democratic Party started the last campaign reluctant to split with a sitting vice president.

"This time around, I think the Democratic structure will be a little more flexible," said Phil Roeder, a Des Moines activist. "As more candidates emerge in the field, the neutrality of key people will be more in evidence this time."

The attitudes are sharply different from in the days immediately following the election. As a disputed count in Florida handed the White House to Bush -- though Gore won the popular vote -- many Democrats assumed Gore would get another shot.

A lot of Democrats argued the election had been stolen and "Re-elect Gore in 2004" symbols were everywhere. That's cooled.

"I'm inclined to support him again, but I want to hear everybody out," said Link.

Gore is not the only Democrat to consider spending time in Iowa. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry has stumped there, as has North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Bradley has paid a return visit, as has House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt.

While Gore won't have the trappings of the White House should he run again, some warned against dismissing him out of hand.

"Someone is going to have to take it from him," said Axelrod.

"I think he's likely to run again, though he hasn't told me that," he said. "He's calling around and that must be a precursor to something. I don't think he's calling around just to run up his phone bill."

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

Answers

In the Des Moines Register there were articles about how this fund- raiser should be postponed for right now. As you can see, it wasn't. Personally, I think depending on how this all works out with Bush and the terrorists thing, Gore may not have a snow ball's chance in hell of getting the nomination. If Bush blows it, Gore would have a chance, but if Bush doesn't, the Dems are going to want to put someone stronger against him (or maybe not??)

I can't believe how many people have said, "Can you imagine if Gore was President?" and roll their eyes. These are people that voted for him too.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

Is NY Gov. Pataki a Democrat? If so . . .

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

I "think" Pataki is a Republican.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

Pataki is a Republican (and a very smart one).

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Oh good--if Bush has him or Giuliani as VP, citing Cheney's health, we might get a bloody landslide next time. Wouldn't that be a cause for celebration?

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001