Former Vice President Al Gore believes Democrats are becoming more willing to embrace progressive ideas on issues such as climate change and healthcare.

"I do think progressive viewpoints are gaining ground in the Democratic Party — I’ve supported single-payer for 15 years now, and we are seeing a big change across the board," Gore said Thursday during a SiriusXM/Variety Magazine town hall.

"If you look at state government and state politics and local politics, the change is more pronounced there.”
Gore doubled down this week on the need for single-payer healthcare amid the Senate Republicans' trouble coalescing around a plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare. He had previously signaled support for the policy in 2002 but didn't include it in his 2000 presidential platform.

Over the past few months, Democrats have been more open to the single-payer approach that’s long been pushed by the more progressive pockets of the party. Single-payer healthcare was one of the main campaign platforms for Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) Democratic presidential bid in 2016, and his allies continue to tout it.


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