Gore who?
Al Gore returned to the political fray Saturday night, attacking President Bush's domestic policies during a speech in Nashville, but some Democratic members of the U.S. Senate indicated they are less than enthusiastic about making Mr. Gore their presidential nominee in 2004.
North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan "laughed uproariously" when asked about supporting Mr. Gore again, New York Times reporter Richard L. Berke writes.
"Al Gore lost North Dakota by 28 points," Mr. Dorgan told the reporter. "The entire ticket went down with him in North Dakota. When you lose by 28 points, that's a mega-landslide."
Louisiana Sen. John Breaux said of Mr. Gore, "Things change. In politics, it's here today, gone tomorow. It's a whole new scenario right now. You have to be likeable before they can vote for you."
Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, who is said to be close to Mr. Gore, also demurred when asked by Mr. Berke whether he would support a Gore candidacy again.
"We have to see what the lay of the land is," Mr. Harkin said. "It would be harder for him because he's not the sitting vice president."
In addition, Mr. Harkin expressed doubt about Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman's pledge not to seek the Democratic presidential nomination if his old running mate, Mr. Gore, enters the contest.
"It's easy to say that now," Mr. Harkin said of the Lieberman pledge. "But when the fever hits you, you don't know."
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