Posted on 09/30/2002 4:44:59 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
NASHVILLE - Al Gore is making a splash on the national scene with his criticism of President Bush's move toward war in Iraq.
The former vice president also has been a welcome Democratic fund-raiser in 2002 elections around the nation, but back home in Tennessee, he's not much of a factor in key races for the U.S. Senate and governor - except as an example of what not to do.
Some think he could be hurting his chances should he decide to run for president again.
"It's still shocking to people how a guy whose father represented the state and who represented the state in both houses of Congress and won on two presidential tickets could lose Tennessee," said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.
"If the Democrats win either the governorship or the Senate seat, Gore can claim 2000 was an aberration and Democrats are on the way back up.
"If they lose both of them, how can Gore claim 2004 will turn out any differently?"
While President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other notable Republicans are visiting the state to raise money for Tennessee candidates, Gore hasn't been featured at many Democratic events.
Gubernatorial candidate Phil Bredesen hasn't even been on the same stage with Gore or accepted money from him.
"I have just said to people, 'Look, I don't want this to be about national issues,' " Bredesen said during a stop last week in Knoxville. "It is not about Washington power politics. It is about Tennessee and the future, and I would like to keep it that way."
Gore has been at fund-raisers for the state party and for Democratic organizations within the state, so the money can go to candidates without a direct tie to Gore.
And Gore has appeared a few times with U.S. Senate candidate Bob Clement, the Nashville congressman running against Republican Lamar Alexander for the seat Fred Thompson is leaving. Gore's "Leadership '02" political action committee contributed $5,000 to Clement's campaign.
Gore's wife, Tipper, considered running for the Senate seat but agreed to let Clement have a clean shot at it.
"Al Gore is a friend. That doesn't mean we agree on all the issues. But he was a good vice president, and he's important to Democrats," Clement said during a fund-raiser Gore also attended for several county Democratic parties.
Recent polls show Clement trailing Alexander, a former Tennessee governor and two-time presidential candidate.
"Gore really needs Clement to win. That would be demonstrative of his rehabilitation in Tennessee," Sabato said. "Bredesen has avoided Gore like the plague, so it would be hard for Gore to claim any credit if he wins."
Gore is expected to announce after the elections whether he will seek the presidency. He has spent time trying to "mend fences" in Tennessee after losing the state and its 11 electoral votes that would have made him president. Gore bought a home in Nashville and continues teaching at two local universities.
But Gore spokesman Jano Cabrera said, "This election is not about Al Gore. This election is not about 2000. It is about choices the people of Tennessee are facing in 2002."
In recent weeks Gore has starred at fund-raisers all over the country. He's the draw at a $500 per person event in Massachusetts for gubernatorial candidate Shannon O'Brien on Friday, the same day Bush will be campaigning for her Republican opponent, Mitt Romney.
Tennessee's Republican Party Chairman Beth Harwell said Gore "has time to gallivant around the country" because he "has become an albatross" around the necks of Democrats in his home state.
However, at a recent fund-raiser for several county Democratic parties, Gore was treated like a rock star, with a crowd converging on him to seek autographs, photos and handshakes.
But he needs to reconnect with independents - about one-third of state voters - many of whom found Gore too liberal and too distant after he served in the Clinton White House.
"Gore was not able to reach out and win Tennessee because of three things: abortion, gun rights and he didn't come home," said former state Rep. Tommy Burnett, a Democrat from Gore's old congressional district and a panelist on a Nashville radio talk show.
Those are lessons this year's candidates - from both parties - have taken to heart.
Candidates on both sides are proclaiming their support of gun rights, and abortion is rarely mentioned. Democratic candidates are vigorously crisscrossing the state reaching out to voters from both parties, but not to Gore.
How could any Tennessean take that carpetbagger seriously?
Algore in his own words, 1992-2000 - including Earth In The Balance!
I am reminded of the line from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: "Unclean, unclean!!"
That is the way all "good" political lepers should be treated!
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