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CNN Live At Daybreak
Al Gore Will Not be Running for President in 2004
Aired December 16, 2002 - 05:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention to politics and the big Sunday surprise -- Al Gore will not be running for president in 2004 and there is more than one Democrat ready to take up the baton.
CNN's John King looks over the field.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There will be no rematch.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: I've decided that I will not be a candidate for president in 2004.
KING: The former vice president says he believes President Bush is vulnerable, but Gore says he decided a replay of the hotly contested 2000 election might not give the Democrats their best chance.
GORE: I personally have the energy and the drive and the ambition to make another campaign. But I don't think it's the right thing for me to do.
KING: The decision came at the end of a Gore media blitz many Democrats thought was a sign he would run, and the night after a stint as guest host of "Saturday Night Live." Now, a wide open Democratic field.
PETER FENN, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: Even Jimmy the Greek would have trouble laying odds on this one.
KING: Vermont Governor Howard Dean is running, hoping Democrats want someone from outside Washington. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is already raising money and banking on early success in neighboring New Hampshire. Congressman Dick Gephardt has spent most of the past month lining up support. Advisers say the Missouri Democrat plans to run and will make his plans clear in the next few weeks.
Senator Joseph Lieberman had said he would not run for president if Gore ran again. The 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee now is leaning in favor of jumping in. Others considering the Democratic race include North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.
FENN: I think this throws things into a bit of a tizzy because I think, in fact, the White House was, in fact, preparing for an Al Gore candidacy and now they don't know what to prepare for.
KING: The White House said President Bush would have no immediate comment.
(on camera): Some see in Gore's decision a calculation that it might be best to sit one out and perhaps run for president again in 2008. The former vice president isn't completely ruling that out, but says as he bows out this time he does so with the full belief he will never get the opportunity to run again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And you can check out the lighter side of Al Gore at the bottom of the hour. We'll have highlights of his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in case you missed it.
As John King just said, though, one of those who may seek the Democratic nomination is Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Kerry had this reaction to Gore's announcement. He says, "I know this was a very difficult and personal decision for Al Gore and his family and I respect the choice he has made. We all owe Al enormous gratitude for the years of dedicated and exemplary public service and for his significant contributions to our party and country. I know that he's going to continue to speak out and be involved on the issues that make a difference to Democrats and to all Americans. I look forward to working with him in every way possible to strengthen the country and fight for the principles we share and for the interests of working people across the nation." Those words from John Kerry.
Al Gore, by the way, will hold a news conference this afternoon and, of course, we will bring you live coverage at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 16, 2002 - 05:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention to politics and the big Sunday surprise -- Al Gore will not be running for president in 2004 and there is more than one Democrat ready to take up the baton.
CNN's John King looks over the field.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There will be no rematch.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: I've decided that I will not be a candidate for president in 2004.
KING: The former vice president says he believes President Bush is vulnerable, but Gore says he decided a replay of the hotly contested 2000 election might not give the Democrats their best chance.
GORE: I personally have the energy and the drive and the ambition to make another campaign. But I don't think it's the right thing for me to do.
KING: The decision came at the end of a Gore media blitz many Democrats thought was a sign he would run, and the night after a stint as guest host of "Saturday Night Live." Now, a wide open Democratic field.
PETER FENN, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: Even Jimmy the Greek would have trouble laying odds on this one.
KING: Vermont Governor Howard Dean is running, hoping Democrats want someone from outside Washington. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is already raising money and banking on early success in neighboring New Hampshire. Congressman Dick Gephardt has spent most of the past month lining up support. Advisers say the Missouri Democrat plans to run and will make his plans clear in the next few weeks.
Senator Joseph Lieberman had said he would not run for president if Gore ran again. The 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee now is leaning in favor of jumping in. Others considering the Democratic race include North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.
FENN: I think this throws things into a bit of a tizzy because I think, in fact, the White House was, in fact, preparing for an Al Gore candidacy and now they don't know what to prepare for.
KING: The White House said President Bush would have no immediate comment.
(on camera): Some see in Gore's decision a calculation that it might be best to sit one out and perhaps run for president again in 2008. The former vice president isn't completely ruling that out, but says as he bows out this time he does so with the full belief he will never get the opportunity to run again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And you can check out the lighter side of Al Gore at the bottom of the hour. We'll have highlights of his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in case you missed it.
As John King just said, though, one of those who may seek the Democratic nomination is Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Kerry had this reaction to Gore's announcement. He says, "I know this was a very difficult and personal decision for Al Gore and his family and I respect the choice he has made. We all owe Al enormous gratitude for the years of dedicated and exemplary public service and for his significant contributions to our party and country. I know that he's going to continue to speak out and be involved on the issues that make a difference to Democrats and to all Americans. I look forward to working with him in every way possible to strengthen the country and fight for the principles we share and for the interests of working people across the nation." Those words from John Kerry.
Al Gore, by the way, will hold a news conference this afternoon and, of course, we will bring you live coverage at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
