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American Morning

Where Have All the Al Gores Gone?

Aired April 30, 2001 - 10:20   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We we've been pointing out, President Bush is marking a big benchmark of sorts. It's his first 100 days in office. We have a pretty good idea of what he's been up to during that time, but what about his former presidential rival?

Our Jeanne Meserve joining us now from Washington on the latest on both President Bush and former Vice President Al Gore -- Jeanne, good morning.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

First, a look at the president and the polls. After 100 days in office, the American public is viewing him quite favorably, giving him an approval rating of 62 percent. That's above where Bill Clinton was after his first 100 days in office. But if you compare him to the eight other presidents who have been elected to office, he ranks somewhere just below the middle. I think we have a graphic to show you that will point that out. Apparently not.

What about that other guy, Al Gore? Whatever happened to him? Well, we saw his SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE incarnation this past Saturday at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: There will be a lock box. And I'm going to tell you what...

Can I do some more of him? I like doing him. I'm so sorry -- I worked a year to do the damn guy and then you beat him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: So where is the real Al Gore? Let's check in with Candy Crowley, our chief political correspondent. Why aren't we seeing more of him?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: He's laying low deliberately. He's had plenty of chances to come out and talk, sometimes after the class he teaches up in New York reporters have been waiting for him for comment on one thing or another. He teaches down in Tennessee, as well. But he has chosen to lay low.

MESERVE: Is he preparing for 2004, quietly, behind-the-scenes? CROWLEY: Well, you know, who knows, because he's not talking to that many people. We're told no, that's not even on his radar screen at this point. He has been quietly thanking supporters for 2000, but they say, well, that's not related to 2004. But right now he's kind of waiting to see how this all shakes out. In some sense, he's waiting for the final recounts down in Florida.

MESERVE: And what does his party want him to do?

CROWLEY: Well, you know, they're of two minds about this. There's sort of two factions. One is, you know, he deserves it. He, you know, he was robbed from the last one and he really should have a second chance. And the other side says wait a minute, he blew it. He should have won. It was a strong economy, a popular president. So there's -- there are really two minds about that.

MESERVE: And meanwhile the other guy who was on the ticket, Joe Lieberman, we've been actually seeing a lot of him by comparison in particular.

CROWLEY: A lot of him. You know, a lot of people say that just by watching the weekend talk shows you can tell who wants to run for president, who might be thinking about running for president. Certainly Joe Lieberman has been very front and center. Part of that is that, you know, the Democratic Party doesn't really have an elected official that really is the leader, Clinton having gone out of the White House and Gore having gone somewhat underground.

But part of it is that Joe Lieberman is sort of thinking about that. That national spotlight is awfully nice. But we're also told that he's made it quite clear that a lot depends on what Al Gore wants to do.

MESERVE: Candy Crowley, thanks so much.

CROWLEY: Sure.

MESERVE: And we'll be taking a look at some of the other Democrats jockeying for position for 2004 in the noon hour. Right now back to you in Atlanta.

KAGAN: Jeanne, thank you very much.

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