Dean Admits Gore Gave 'Kiss of Death'

Howard Dean is not the only big loser as a result of the Democratic primaries.

The other loser wasn't even in the race: Al Gore.

But now top pundits say Gore's endorsement of Dean may have ended any future possibility the former vice president has of returning to the White House.

And even Dean says the Gore endorsement was the turning point for his campaign.

Dean told Bob Woodward on CNN’s "Larry King Live" that the Gore endorsement in early December started his free-fall decline. "I actually do think the endorsement of Al Gore began the decline," Dr. Dean told Woodward.

Dean quickly added that Gore's endorsement so worried the other Democratic candidates and the establishment wing of the party that the attacks on him reached a fever pitch.

"The establishment in Washington really realized that I might be the nominee and they did not like it," Dr. Dean concluded.

Gore's misjudgment may have cost him any chance of getting the Democratic nomination in 2008 – if a Democrat doesn't win this year.

He is also becoming the butt of jokes. Bob Dole said he has advised the Kerry and Edwards campaigns that if Gore calls them, they should not return the phone call.

"I suppose people are going to be running away from Al Gore the way the devil runs away from holy water," Paul Begala, a former Clinton aide, told the New York Times.

Editor's note:
Ed Asner brags about getting Rush Limbaugh and vows to nail Hannity next. Get the full story - Click Here!

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2004 Elections
Al Gore