Obama/Clinton Split Delegates...No Decisive Winner...Bosses Choose Gore at DNC

[Politico]

After a long, expensive, and divisive battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that results in neither nominee winning the necessary amount of delegates to secure the nomination, the Democratic Party heads into its first convention without a presidential candidate since 1968. Animosity between the two sides is high. Neither side will relent and accept the other side as its nominee. The "smoke-filled backrooms" eventually produce the "unity" candidate of Al Gore. Gore reluctantly accepts the nomination and chooses Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia as his running mate.

The Republicans also end up enduring a long battle, but eventually produce a battered winner in Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who used a surprising comeback in New Hampshire to slingshot himself towards victory. Many cite his experience, conservative credentials (Especially compared to Romney and Giuliani) and, most importantly, everlasting support of the effort in Iraq, for leading to the comeback. McCain chooses Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota as his running mate at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

After the conventions, McCain moves slightly towards the center on Iraq, but not enough to greatly disturb a majority of his conservative base. However, a majority of Americans are still critical of his support of the war, which compares unfavorably to Gore's record on the issue along with Gore's earnest promise to bring an honorable end to the war. McCain tries to neutralize the issue of global warming, pointing towards his agreements with Gore on the issue, but all of the talk and semi-agreement about global warming only fuels Gore's campaign, especially in environmentally-conscious states such as Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New Hampshire.

In the end, McCain's continued support of Bush's effort in Iraq ends up being the difference as Gore squeaks by with a half-point edge in the popular vote, along with only one-point or less differences in most every swing state, resulting in an Electoral College victory of 300-238 (Gore wins all of the states he won in 2000 along with FL, NH, and CO).

[HappyWarrior]

[Kaine for Senate '18]

These are the best candidates for each party, and Gore barely pulls it out, 297-241.

[Padfoot]

No.  Any scenario involving Al Gore as the Democratic nominee is never going to happen.  I don't care if all the Democratic nominees except for Gravel are assassinated, Gore will not be the 2008 Democratic nominee for president.  LET. IT. GO.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Gore will not be the 2008 Democratic nominee for president.  LET. IT. GO.

Gore wouldn't even get the nomination, if this scenario occured. However, if this scenario was to occur in RL, Gore would become 43rd President of the United States by defeating Senator John McCain. Here's a map.

Al Gore/Tim Kaine (D): 316 EV, 51%
John McCain/Tim Pawlenty (R): 222 EV, 48%
Others (Socialist, ect): 0 EV, 1%

[politicaltipster]

Gore won't get nominated and McCain will (if he has any sense whatsoever) choose Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and tack to the centre on economic issues.

[Michael Z]

I know this is a purely hypothetical scenario, but I don't think Gore would accept the nomination. I genuinely think he's had enough of politics.

[Padfoot]

I know this is a purely hypothetical scenario, but I don't think Gore would accept the nomination. I genuinely think he's had enough of politics.

both he and I have been saying essentially that for months now.

[Politico]

For what it's worth:

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Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/15/2008.endorsements/index.html

[Joe Biden 2020]

Give it up, please.

[Politico]

New article from The Cafferty File on CNN.com's front page:

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Source: http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/25/room-for-al-gore-in-the-race/

[JSojourner]

I totally agree.  Gore is loving life outside politics and is now stumping for what her cares most about.

But -- just for sh**ts and giggles, suppose this highly improbable scenario does occur. 

Who emerges?  An elder statesman?  A sitting Senator?

[Хahar 🤔]

EVs from 2000?

[Politico]

I took a lot of flak from some people for this prediction, but I can't say that I'm embarrassed by it. I certainly still stand by it

At this point, I believe that Obama has a greater chance of capturing the nomination compared to Hillary. I still think Obama will fall just short of capturing the prize, though, and the petty Clintonistas will find a way to get Gore the nomination instead. That said, it's obviously very hard to predict the running mates way back in December. If Gore becomes the unexpected nominee due to an unprecedented brokered convention, it would be hard to see Gore not choosing Obama as his running mate. The guy is simply too hot to pass up you would think. Tim Kaine would certainly bring a lot to the ticket, too, though. Also, McCain may be forced to choose an evangelical as his running mate, and obviously Huckabee would fill that role. I still think Pawlenty would be a decent and likely pick, especially considering how he stayed with McCain even in the darkest days of the campaign.

[Politico]

Howard Dean earlier today:

"I think we're going to have a nominee by middle of March or April. But if we don't, then we're gonna have to get the candidates together and make some kind of arrangement, because I don't think we can afford to have a brokered convention. That would not be good news for either party."

My thoughts after reading Chairman Dean's latest comments:

It is becoming increasingly clear that the uncommitted superdelegates may force both sides to step aside if neither one can clinch the nomination without significant support from super delegates. A Gore/Obama ticket would be the ultimate compromise proposed by pragmatic, uncommitted superdelegates, put forth in an effort to unify the party by appeasing both superdelegates who back Clinton and superdelegates who back Obama. It may prove to be the best solution to this increasingly likely dilemma. If there is still not an official nominee at the end of March then overtures should definitely be made to ensure that Gore and Obama are open to this possibility. The future of the Democratic Party may be at stake.

[Politico]

Straight from Newsweek:

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Source: http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/02/15/al-gore-to-the-rescue.aspx

[The Hack Hater]

Like everybody else here, I don't think Gore would accept the nomination if offered to him. If he wanted to run, he would have done so. This smacks of beating a dead horse, but then that's just me. One of the maps had Gore win all the states he did in 2000 including Florida.

Oh, and I'd doubt he could win Nevada. Colorado is a much more likely option.

[Politico]

Given the new polls that show McCain gaining significant ground in Minnesota, no doubt due to the Democratic bloodbath, my bet is still on Pawlenty to be tabbed as his running mate.

Whether it's Gore/Obama or Obama/Gore, the powers that be in the Democratic Party really need to make sure those two make up the ticket. Otherwise, I foresee McCain winning in November.

[Padfoot]

Given the new polls that show McCain gaining significant ground in Minnesota, no doubt due to the Democratic bloodbath, my bet is still on Pawlenty to be tabbed as his running mate.

Whether it's Gore/Obama or Obama/Gore, the powers that be in the Democratic Party really need to make sure those two make up the ticket. Otherwise, I foresee McCain winning in November.

barf.  If Al Gore is on the Democratic ticket I will refuse to vote for ANY Democrats in Novemeber.

[Politico]

More arguments for Gore/Obama emerge:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_neurosco_080423_the_case_for_gore_ob.htm

http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid60249.aspx

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I repeat once again, for the umpteenth time in the past half year, that Democrats will lose in November unless they nominate Gore. Hillary's negatives are too high and cannot be brought back to an electable level. On the flip side, Obama's inexperience is too much to overcome up against a seasoned vet like McCain.

After the circular firing squad comes to a momentary conclusion after the final Democratic primaries, the Democrat powers that be will realize that they have forced upon them self two choices:

- Lose in November
- Win in November with Gore/Obama

Since Obama will still have a lead in pledged delegates and the number of states won after the primaries end, the choice will ultimately become Obama's:  Does he want to lose in November as the Democrats' candidate for president...or does he want to win in November as the Democrats' candidate for vice president?

Polls will show that only Gore/Obama can attract both the Clinton and Obama crowds. In other words, Gore/Obama is the only path to unity and victory.