Obama: The Gore endorsement
Posted: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 9:20 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Al Gore, NBC/NJ’s Athena Jones reports, endorsed Obama at a rally in a packed arena last night, saying it was time for the party to unite behind the Illinois senator and touching on his own experience as a presidential candidate to illustrate the idea that “elections matter.”
VIDEO: NBC's Lee Cowan reports on former Vice President Al Gore's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president. The two have been talking for many months.
"In looking back over last eight years, I can tell you we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me elections matter,” he said. “If you think the next appointments to our Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter. If live in city of New Orleans, you know that elections matter. If you or a member of your family are serving in active military, the National Guard or reserves, you know that elections matter. If you’re a wounded veteran, you know that elections matter.” He also said elections mattered to those facing economic hardship and those who care about food safety and even the nation’s pets, who’ve been fed tainted pet food from China.
"It is the second time that Obama has rolled out a major endorsement in Michigan, a state he did not campaign in during the primary because its election violated the party rules," the Boston Globe writes. "Last month, he appeared with 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards in Grand Rapids, as party leaders united behind Obama as their nominee."
The Washington Post adds, “The theme of Monday night's speeches was Democratic Party unity, with Obama, Gore and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm all vowing to bring the party back together after a hard-fought primary. But the crowd was not ready to come along. It loudly booed Granholm after she mentioned Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), drawing a rebuke from Obama when he took the stage. ‘I want everybody here to be absolutely clear,’ he said. ‘Senator Clinton is one of the finest public servants we have in American life today. . . . She is worthy of our respect. She is worthy of our honor.’”
The New York Post writes up Patti Solis Doyle joining the Obama campaign. "Clinton insiders were surprised by the move, with many casting it as telegraphing that the New York senator won't be put on the ticket. Solis Doyle 'is the reason we lost,' said one Clinton insider, noting the campaign's profligate spending and other problems in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, where the one-time front-runner came in third. Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee tried to quell the outrage, saying, 'Patti will be an asset and good addition to the Obama campaign.'"
Obama said he wouldn't wait until the sixth year of his presidency to sit down and meet with the auto industry. It turns out his criticism of Bush was off by three years; Bush sat down with the Detroit auto heads in 2003.
The New York Daily News frames Obama saying he'd go to Iraq as him, answering "Mac-call to visit Baghdad."
