Gore Narrows Veep Search
July 26 -- Vice President Al Gore said today he has not made a final decision about his running mate, but indicated that he is narrowing his search.
Appearing with the Rev. Jesse Jackson before the leadership of the Chicago-based organization People United to Save Humanity, Gore said he was “not ready yet” to select a vice-presidential candidate.
A day after Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Gore’s Republican rival, named Dick Cheney as his running mate, Gore also said in a radio interview that his list of prospective vice-presidential candidates was down to “a very few” names, but refused to specify who they are.
Contenders most frequently mentioned include Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Florida Sen. Bob Graham, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine.
Could Kerry Be the One?
Kerry, who appeared with Gore at a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser in Washington Tuesday evening, declined to comment on his chances today.
“I don’t want to play any games with you,” Kerry told reporters on Capitol Hill, “it’s a process which they’ve requested be private.”
Appearing at a press conference with Kerry this afternoon, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona drew laughs as he acknowledged that a Gore-Kerry pairing could be just the ticket Democrats need.
Kerry, McCain said, is “an accomplished debater and a person who knows the issues,” adding, “therefore I strongly recommend that Vice President Gore not select Senator Kerry as his running mate.”
Meeting with Headhunter
Tuesday, Gore told reporters he was “getting down to what you could call a short list, but we still have some work to do,” prior to a meeting with his veep-hunter, former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, at the official vice president’s residence in Washington.
The Democratic presidential candidate said that he was “looking for someone with whom I can have a great partnership and someone who shares my values, and is willing to fight for the people and not the powerful,” using a phrase he often works into stump speeches.
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