Reply #5: It's more like Gore is prepping us for 2008, when he want's to....

[deminflorida]

run against Hillary Clinton. Please note that American's are not going to vote for what will be perceived as a middle class tax hike by a New Englander in the general election.

"It will also make Gore a behind-the-scenes power broker in the Dean campaign, the Gore sources said, and could position him to challenge Hillary Clinton for the 2008 nomination should Dean lose the general election next year."

http://msnbc.com/news/1002878.asp?0cv=CB10

The real test for Gore if he is sincere about supporting Howard Dean is to watch and see if he gives up any of that eight million dollar campaign war chest he's sitting on and donates it to the Dean campaign.

If not, it's hype and he's backing a certain loser in the general election for one reason, so he can run himself in 2008. If Dean wins then Gore can say that he consolidated the voters behind a winner and he claims the title of Kingmaker over the Clintons. It's a win/win situation for Gore.

There is one possible dangerous situation for Gore. Democratic voters who view Gore as a turncoat and coward for not challanging Bush in 2004, and who are not looking for a political figure period, squeeze out a victory for Clark in the South and Midwest, as well a rust belt state or two. Then Gore could be isolated along with Howard Dean into the democratic "Tax and Spend" political hall of fame along with George Mcgovern, and Michael Dukakis.