Why isn't Gore running?

[AkSaber]

Maybe cause he likes campaigning for the environment more than for votes.

[agcatter]

he served as Bill's VP.  He's seen first hand what the Clintons do to people who get in the way of their ambition.  You think he wants to be standing in the way of Hillary's road to the White House?  Think again.

[gorkay]

If Gore decides to run now, then he will have to come up with an explanation to why he is doing this after repeated insisting that he is not running. It will be very hard to explain that without appearing opportunistic.

There have been many, many candidates in the past who have run after repeated insistences that they wouldn't, and it didn't keep them from getting nominated or elected. Eisenhower is one notable example.

[Michael Z]

In my view, Al Gore knows in his heart that he cannot win the nomination, and therefore does not want to set himself up for a loss of this magnitude. 

He wants to leave his political legacy intact, not in shreds.

There is no way he wouldn't win the nomination and there is a fairly good chance he would win the general.  However, you are somewhat right in that he is afraid of "losing" again.  To lose something twice on such a huge scale in front of the entire country is very difficult.  Especially if your first loss was really a win you weren't allowed to claim.

It didn't stop Nixon - and in fact, he came very close to losing in '68. I can't see any of the current Republican candidates beating Gore.

[Jake]

Maybe cause he likes campaigning for the environment more than for votes.

I think this is it. Gore's entire energy is currently directed at climate change. I hear the argument that he has a bigger stage and bigger name as President, but he also cannot devote nearly as much energy, time, and effort to his pet issue. He's not running.

[jimrtex]

Not that I would like for him to run, but why is he ignoring this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? 2008 is the only year in which he would be guarenteed victory if he runs, so why doesn't he test the waters or something? Thoughts?

Would he choose Lieberman as his VP candidate?