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Gore Emerges In Campaign

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The New York Times

Published: June 17, 2008

DETROIT - Former Vice President Al Gore made his season debut on the presidential campaign Monday evening, offering a vigorous endorsement of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as he urged all Democrats to rally behind the party's fall ticket.

Speaking at a campaign fundraiser that preceded a rally that drew thousands of supporters to a downtown arena, Gore ticked through a long list of challenges facing the nation. He hailed Obama as "clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America."

Gore had purposefully stayed on the sidelines during the long Democratic primary fight. He announced his decision to endorse Obama on Monday afternoon in a message to supporters on the former vice president's vast e-mail list. Their appearance at the Joe Louis Arena touched off a flurry of curiosity among Democrats gathered in the crowd, with many quietly wondering whether Gore would be on Obama's list of prospective running mates.

The decision to stage the appearance in Michigan underscored the importance of the state for Obama. It was also in Michigan that former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards unveiled his endorsement of Obama in a surprise setting. The state, a general election battleground, was one of the few places that Obama did not campaign during the primary because of a dispute with the Democratic National Committee over the delegates.

"Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement," Gore wrote to his supporters, asking them to join Obama's campaign. "He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action."

Since Obama opened his presidential bid in January 2007, the two have talked frequently, including in a private meeting last fall at Gore's Nashville home. Obama said Monday that the former vice president had been helpful throughout the primaries, lending his ear and his thoughts, but always taking care to stay impartial in the wide Democratic field.

"It means a lot, obviously," Obama said. "We've had ongoing conversations about a whole host of issues, a lot of them have revolved around issues of climate change and energy and the environment. He's provided good political advice."

Monday evening's rally was a rare political appearance for Gore, who implored Democrats to unify behind Obama and take seriously the notion that the next president would almost certainly help shape the makeup of the Supreme Court.

"Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges - including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis," Gore said.

At a fundraising reception before the evening rally, Gore stood a few paces behind Obama, a curious reversal of roles for the man who served for eight years in the White House and narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election to George Bush. Gore applauded repeatedly as he watched Obama deliver his remarks, standard fare that was heavily weighted with talking points about climate change and the environment.

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