Gore Leaves Door Open

I watched a very interesting interview with Al Gore, wherein he commented on, what else, running for President. I thought the following quite telling, and to me it shows that Gore is considering another run:

GORE:But, yes, it's true, I have not made a so- called Sherman statement and ruled it out for all time. I see no reason or necessity to do that.

But that's not an effort to be coy or to prop the door open or to invite such speculation. Look, I don't know why it's ordained that one -- that as soon as one presidential campaign is over with, the next one begins right away. I'm one of those who doesn't like to see the Christmas goods put into storage right after Halloween.

And I think the American people are not well-served by having an endless campaign. We are 500 days away from the next election. So why just sort of close up the field and say, OK, this is it. Place your bets. I don't have to play that game.

KING: No, you don't. But -- and I don't mean to be coy, but why not take the Sherman approach? Why not say, I don't want to run, and if nominated, I won't serve?

GORE: Or whatever. Well, I see no reason to do that. Why would I do that?

KING: Because when you don't, you leave things open.

GORE: Well, I have not closed the door at some point in the future to consider being a candidate..

As an aside, the funniest part of the interview was Gore commenting on the media’s fascination with triviality, as opposed to hard news. There is a certain irony in Gore making that statement while on Larry King.

I think the most intriguing comment is Gore saying that we are still 500 days from the election, and he doesn’t have to “play the game” of endless campaigning. I translate that statement to mean there is plenty of time for a late entry into the race. And, the fact that Gore refuses to simply issue a categorical NO seems to betray at least a latent desire