Mitchman's Blog

We are just days away from the Iowa Caucus and then it is on to New Hampshire.  The candidates on both sides of the political spectrum are scrambling to convince last minute, undecided, voters to embrace them as their candidate for President.  Is the best surprises yet to come?  The 2008 year Presidential elections began close to year and a half ago and the political drama continues to unfold.  Mike Huckabee coming out of nowhere to take the lead in Iowa and edging out Mitt Romney as the front runner in that state could spell disaster for New Hampshire a week later, but it is the democratic race that has me wondering what could come next.

Bare with me on this prediction, this is not based on any poll or focus group, it is just one man’s opinion of what might happen.  If Hillary Clinton does not take the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire it could hamstring her campaign and cause a weaker showing in South Carolina (John Edwards home state) and on to Super Tuesday and the rest of the primary season.  If Barack Obama wins in the early states and John Edwards come in a close second, that could push Hillary out the race entirely.  If that happened it would open the door for a dark horse to ride into town and take the democratic nomination.  Who could this dark horse be?   None other than former Vice President and 2000 Democratic Presidential nominee, Al Gore.

Okay, so why Al Gore?  Well, he has had a great year for starters.  His documentary film, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH created such a buzz and his passion for the environmental movement breathed new life into this often rigid politician.  Did anyone see his turn as host of Saturday Night Live after the 2000 elections?  He was brilliant, if only he had done that before the election it may have helped him over the hump and win the election (I know the election is still a sore subject for many so we will move on now). 

He won an Oscar for the film and garnered numerous other awards as well, but these pale in comparison to winning the NOBEL PEACE Prize in 2007.  He is a man that shows heart and conviction, he is intelligent, driven, focused and carries with him international recognition.  He is far enough removed from the day to day silliness of Washington, but has the experience to charter those choppy waters if elected President (again).

But why would he wait so late?  The answer is simple, as a favor to the Clintons.  He wanted to give Hillary her fair shot at the presidency before he entered the race.  He would have cast to wide of a shadow if he had been competing for his party's candidacy right now.  He patiently waits in the wings until his party calls him back into service.

Again this is just one man’s opinion of what could happen. 

In the next couple of weeks I will begin a series of blogs called THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT, what it takes to become the President of the United States, by studying the men that have held that office, in particular, in the 20th Century.  I hope you will find the blogs helpful and entertaining.