WI: Gore in 2008

[Emperor Norton I]

While not necessarily a popular topic now (likely due to proximity to 2008), I think this will be a popular thought in the future, perhaps because it contains a parallel Nixon aesthetic to it.

What if Al Gore had run in 2008? And for arguments sake, what would be the consequences of victory in the nomination and/or general election?

[DSS]

I once played a scenario like this on President Forever. I played as Al Gore in 2008, and I narrowly beat Mark Warner to the nomination, and he became my running mate. My polls had fallen due to the close primary fight, and until late September, it looked like John McCain was going to be president. Then, I regained momentum, and I won the presidency with 370 EVs

It was a fun scenario.

[Ron Paul 2012]

I think Gore could have got the nom- but it woyuld be a tough battle getting around Hillary. Accusations of betrayal and Gore's well known face could send the race in a million different directions but if he could get the nom than it would be quite fitting for him to wipe away the legacy of the Bush administration.

[theReturner]

Actually, I once read an article in I think TIME magazine, in which one person wondered at the height of the Obama Vs. Clinton Battle, that if things went on much longer, it might be possible to have Gore step into the race as a compremise, and give Obama the VP spot due to his number of delegates.

I`m not sure if something like that could have happened, but I`m not sure if Gore would have been able to get the nomination with so many other candidates. He would be a front-runner for sure, and many would say he deserved a second chance after Bush ended up in the White House while Gore one the popular vote. On the other hand, their would be those who say, if he lost it once he will lose it again.

On the other hand, 2008 really was the Democrats best chance to win the White House since 1996 so...

[Drew]

Very tough nomination contest; if the same top candidates as IOTL (i.e. H.R. Clinton, Obama) then Gore and Hillary would have been going head-to-head for the established Democrats while Obama was doing a McGovern after the youth vote and the non-traditional first time voters. It's very possible that Gore and Hillary would have split the anti-Obama vote, thus bringing about Obama's nomination sooner. It might have drawn Obama further to the left during the nomination fight, but he would have corrected during the campaign.

IMHO I could only see this working if Hillary decided not to run, or if the Jeremiah Wright matter had somehow derailed Obama's campaign; or some other POD that would affect the make-up of the Democratic race.

If nominated, Gore would have won in November, it was a Democratic year, especially with the market and bank meltdowns coming as they did to remind everyone of the failures of the Bush years. He might have been carrying some baggage of the Clinton Administration's contribution to it, but still it was eight years of Republican administration that took the blame. The election might have been closer, with McCain picking-up more Electoral Votes.

President Gore might have proved more adept at handling his own legislative agenda after winning. The health care reform would have been parcelled out in segments rather than as one giant bill.