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  Another Gore misstep
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ContributorEddie 
Last EditedEddie  Dec 13, 2003 09:08am
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CategoryOpinion
News DateThursday, December 11, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionBy Susan Estrich

Al Gore has done it again.

There's a reason he isn't president, and it's not just the chads in Florida. Gore has the worst political instincts of anyone to have gotten as far as he did.

Once again, he has proven why he is a loser and not a leader.

Of course, the endorsement by the former vice president helps Howard Dean, at least in the short run. It cements his role as the front-runner in the race, sending a powerful message about the race to insiders and outsiders. Try making fund-raising calls today if you're Joe Lieberman or John Kerry or Dick Gephardt. Try explaining to would-be donors how it is that the race is still wide open. Say thank you to Al Gore for that.

Still, the smart money for the nomination has been on Dean for some time, which gives the other candidates even more reason to be angry at the former vice president.

Indeed, the danger for Gore is that if Dean should be the nominee and lose, as some on the hawkish side of the Democratic Party fear, Gore can kiss his role in the party goodbye. But that's the least of it.

The problem with the Democratic rules is that it can take too long even for a winner to amass the number of delegates necessary to cement the nomination. Because the Democrats have eliminated winner-take-all primaries, because minor candidates can stay in the race and continue to collect delegates, there comes a point in the process when you need party leaders to declare the process ended, even if no one has literally won a majority yet. Al Gore could have played that role. A man who has stepped on those who have stood by him is in no position to lead.
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