Chef Al Gore Gives Hillary Head Seat at Presidential Table
Back to the Clinton's Role in This Attack Page
NewsMax.com
Friday, Nov. 30, 2001 12:06 p.m. EST
Al Gore's announcement that he's now personally running his own Tennessee restaurant has more than a few White House watchers speculating that he has now all but officially retired from politics, a decision that's sure to gladden the heart of at least one ambitious Democrat - New York Senator Hillary Clinton.
"We have started a family restaurant in Tennessee and we are running it ourselves. It is a low-cost restaurant," Gore told a stunned audience in Africa this week.
With Gore waiting tables and slinging hash, it's Hillary who now occupies the head seat at the Democratic Party's 2004 presidential table.
In poll after poll Democrats say that if they can't have Gore in '04, they want Mrs. Clinton to head the ticket, preferring her to other likely contenders such as Sens. Joe Lieberman, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, John Edwards and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.
In August, 34 percent of Democrats told Gallup/CNN/USA Today they'd nominate Gore again. Hillary came in a relatively close second, with 21 percent. The only other Democrat to break into double digits was former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, with 12 percent.
Former V.P. nominee Joe Lieberman was backed by just 9 percent.
A survey of Iowa Democrats in April also showed Mrs. Clinton running behind only Al Gore.
Hillary has repeatedly denied she wants to run for the White House in 2004 - but virtually no one believes her, since she said the same thing about running for Senate while she was first lady.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Al Gore
Sen. Hillary ClintonA product that might interest you:
She Will Run! Hillary Clinton`s Plans for the Presidency