WI Gore declines to run in 2000?

I was driving along and an idea occurred to me; If Gore declined to run in 2000, who besides Bradley would throw a hat into the Ring? I was at a loss to explain why Gore would not run, and then I passed a sign asking for research into Pancreatic Cancer, of all things. I've decided to run with it. A routine physical in early 2000 reveals a cancerous growth on Al Gores pancreas, leaving him with a 95% chance of being dead within five years. He keeps the news to himself, and declines to run in 2000, saying merely that he wishes to spend more time with his family, and that he does not wish to face the same media attention as his predecessor.
 
I detect a lack of response, so I think it best to clarify a few points.

1. I do not hate Al Gore. I do not agree with some of the positions he has taken during his career, but I do not hate him. Hating someone requires knowing them on a private level. Having never met the man I can no more hate him than say, Thomas Edison. It is quite possible that we could be friends.

2. I wish to know the possibilities of an alternate candidate in 2000, such as Bill Bradley, because I see George W. Bush as an anomaly. Regardless of what your views on the Florida vote happen to be, the situation should not have happened. Gore ran as an incumbent during a time of prosperity, therefore he should have cruised to victory easily. He did not. I want to know why.

3. I chose pancreatic cancer not because of any malice, but because I wished to remove Gore from the list of candidates. Pancreatic cancer, although a horribly painful way of dying, can strike anyone of any race, socioeconomic position, or health. I thought a serious illness would be needed to change his thought process towards running. I could just have easily suggested an aortic dissection.
 
It's a perfectly reasonable POD in my opinion...

Well honestly I doubt Bradley could win. I'd agree with Jasen in saying that Dick Gephardt is a good bet on being able to win the nomination as Bradley's probably too liberal (not to mention that without Gore, I'd expect more left wing attempts from Jesse Jackson, Paul Wellstone etc.)

Perhaps a Gephardt/Dean ticket?
 
Wellstone withdrew because of illness—if he had run, Bradley would not have.


An ATL in which Senator Chris Dodd becomes Minority Leader in the early '90s instead of Daschle (he was one vote short) probably sees him run in 2000 if Gore does not.

IOTL it's possible Daschle decides to run.

I agree on Gephardt.

Joe Biden? Evan Bayh? John Kerry? Russ Feingold? Paul Wellstone (butterflies, where's he not sick)?

Who were the important Governors at the time?
 
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