John LeBoutillier
Wednesdaym Aug. 15, 2001

As predicted in this space right after the disputed Florida recount was completed, the former vice president has never stopped running. His self-imposed time out of public view – in 'internal exile' – was a deliberate act and the first stage of his political rehabilitation.

Yesterday's deliberate 'leak' that the former veep would be the main speaker at Iowa's Sept. 29 Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner is the surest sign so far that Gore is off and running.

Last weekend's bipartisan Tennessee 'Political Campaign School' with former governor Lamar Alexander was another indicator that Gore is slowly but surely re-emerging into the political world.

History: Gore is no dummy. The greatest political rehabilitator of all time was Richard Nixon. After losing a disputed election in 1960 – and being written off by party insiders as a 'loser' (he also got creamed in the 1962 California governor's race and then quit politics) – Nixon came all the way back in 1968 to blow away his Big Name opponents (Rockefeller, Scranton, Romney and Reagan). He did this by carefully rebuilding himself within the GOP. In 1966 Nixon campaigned tirelessly for congressional candidates. When the GOP picked up seats, he earned credit.

Look for Gore to follow that game plan. Already he has announced that he will campaign for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim McGreevey in New Jersey this fall.

And then next year he is certain to stump all over the nation hoping to earn chits and credit from what could be a big year for Democrats in the Senate and House.

2004 Democratic Nomination: If you ask Democratic Party insiders in D.C., they are all very down on Gore. "He blew the 2000 election." "He ran a terrible campaign." "He's a loser." These are oft heard at lunch and at Hill receptions. Thus the nascent candidacies of John Edwards, John Kerry, Hillary, Daschle, Gephardt and Joe Lieberman.

If you go "out there" – to America – and ask Democratic primary voters, the ones who actually select the nominee, you will get a different response. They are not so down on Gore. Sure, he made some mistakes, these left-leaners say. But what sticks in their craw is Florida. They believe that the "Bush brothers stole Florida!"

Thus, as with Nixon after the 1960 race was truly stolen by LBJ in Texas and the Kennedy/Smith/Daley team in Cook County, the rank-and-file voters feel Gore deserves another chance.

This is why in all the polls conducted so far Gore leads by huge margins over all other contenders. Hillary is second – and she has said she won't run. Who believes her anyway? But, if she doesn't run, Gore's lead is more than 30 points over any other Democratic primary opponent.

Economy: Can or will Gore defeat G.W. Bush in 2004? I heard many fascinating political discussions with President Nixon late in his life. Here is exactly what he would say today: "If the economy is good in 2004, no one will beat Bush. But if the economy is soft or slow or the perception of it is negative, then any Democrat will beat Bush."

Does Bush Want to run again against Gore? WOND's excellent afternoon radio host in Atlantic City, N.J., asked me that yesterday. I am not sure what Bush and his team would prefer. If the economy is humming along they should have no trouble again defeating Gore.

On the other hand, next time around you can bet the Democrats will make certain that every Democratic voter gets to the polls and votes correctly. They will be determined to reverse what they see as an injustice in the 2000 race.

All of that is a long, long way off.

First comes this year's quite important New Jersey and Virginia races, followed by the crucial congressional races next year.

When all that is done, Al Gore will announce. And he will easily win the Democratic nomination.

After that – as of now – all bets are off.

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Al Gore