Gore in 2008

I have told this story a number of times, and I just now actually wrote it well for a Billikens.com post. So I will post it here too….

Everyone thinks that Gore is an out-there choice for 2008, and it may be…But, I think we should look at the following before we necessarily rule him out.

Candidate A and Candidate B are running for President in #. Candidate B is the current VP. Candidate B struggles with being in the shadow and the impact of his popular predecessor (the current President who he is VP to). Candidate A wins with the help of a very contested election in State Z. Administration A (Candidate A) is immensely unpopular early in his term. There is a national crisis which Administration A handles well. Administration A is popular. Administration A starts getting significantly involved in a war abroad. Administration A suffers national tragedy. Administration A rides that sympathy/sentiment to re-election defeating a “poor choice” in Candidate B’s party in election #+4.

Meanwhile, Candidate B suffers in the public eye. However, he starts reshaping his image over the years.

Administration A suffers politcally because of the war they got involved in. The American people don’t see an end to the war. Candidate B decides to run for president again. Candidate B makes a comeback citing the good times of old when he was VP. Candidate B wins this time in November #+8.
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Now…Who’s story is this? It isn’t a prediction of the future…It happened. Here is the story again, with names.
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John Kennedy (Candidate A) and Richard Nixon (Candidate B) are running for President in 1960 (#). Nixon is the current VP. Nixon struggles with being in the shadow and the impact of his popular predecessor, Eisenhower (the current President who he is VP to). Kennedy wins with the help of a very contested election in Illinois (State Z). Kennedy (Administration A (Candidate A)) is immensely unpopular early in his term (Bay of Pigs). There is The Cuban Missile Crisis (national crisis which Kennedy Administration (Administration A) handles well. Kennedy Administration (Administration A) is popular. Kennedy Administration (Administration A) starts getting significantly involved in Vietnam, a war, abroad. Kennedy Administration (Administration A) suffers national tragedy (JFK’s Assasination). Johnson Adminstration (Administration A) rides that sympathy/sentiment to re-election defeating a “poor choice” in Republican (Candidate B’s) party in 1964 (#+4).

Meanwhile, Richard Nixon (Candidate B) suffers in the public eye (Losing Gubernatorial Race in California). However, he starts reshaping his image over the years.

Johnson Administration (Administration A) suffers politcally because of Vietnam (the war they got involved in). The American people don’t see an end to the war. Richard Nixon (Candidate B) decides to run for president again. Richard Nixon (Candidate B) makes a comeback citing the good times of old (gotta love the ’50s) when he was VP. Richard Nixon (Candidate B) wins this time in 1968.

Now, let’s apply this to some more modern settings.
George W. Bush (Candidate A) and Al Gore (Candidate B) are running for President in 2000. Al Gore (Candidate B) is the current VP. Al Gore (Candidate B) struggles with being in the shadow and the impact of his popular predecessor, Bill Clinton (the current President who he is VP to). Bush (Candidate A) wins with the help of a very contested election in Florida (State Z). The Bush Adminstration (Administration A (Candidate A)) is immensely unpopular early in his term. There is 9/11 (a national crisis) which the Bush Adminstration (Administration A) handles well. Bush Administration (Administration A) is popular. The Bush Administration (Administration A) starts getting significantly involved in Iraq (a war abroad). Bush Adminstration (Administration A) suffers national tragedy (Still Riding 9/11, War on Terror, and Iraq (i.e. Getting Saddam). Administration A rides that sympathy/sentiment to re-election defeating a “poor choice” in Gore’s (Candidate B’s) party in election 2004 (#+4).

Meanwhile, Al Gore (Candidate B) suffers in the public eye (The Beard Phase, the Liberalness, Endorsing Dean). However, he starts reshaping his image over the years. (Anyone see that nice article about Katrina & Gore?)

Bush Administration (Administration A) suffers politcally because of the war they got involved in. The American people don’t see an end to the war. Al Gore (Candidate B) decides to run for president again. Al Gore (Candidate B) makes a comeback citing the good times of old (gotta love the ’90s) when he was VP. Al Gore (Candidate B) wins this time in November 2008 (#+8).
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