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Gore meant to buck up morale. But Democrats with good memories must have blanched, since he and his handlers said all of these things in his last race. In October 1999, he moved his campaign headquarters to Nashville, seeking to symbolize his distance from the cynical culture of Washington. "You know, I'm throwing away the prepared text, and my attitude is `let it rip,'" he told reporters. "I'm just going to speak from the heart about the issues that I hear people saying are of most concern to them." According to another newspaper story at the time, Gore was methodical about his spontaneity. Describing his preparations for a campaign commercial, the report said: "He even scribbled the phrase `in my heart' in the margin of his ad copy so that he would say it on camera." During an interview with R. W. Apple of the New York Times, Gore elaborated on his "new" approach. "It's casting away that self-vetting, that split-second's hesitation that keeps you from saying what's on your heart and mind," he said. "`Should I say that? Is it safe? How will it sound?' I need to stop that." After defeating Bill Bradley for the Democratic nomination, he proclaimed himself a success. "I realized that in order to ask the people of this country for leadership, you have to respond spontaneously and directly, straight from the heart, and not in any other way." Still, Gore continued to hear criticisms that he was a creature of his advisers — particularly feminist writer Naomi Wolf, who had reportedly told him to wear earth tones and come across as an "alpha male." Campaigning in Iowa in August of 2000, he responded: "What I'm telling you here this evening is not something that's been written for me by some pollster or some consultant." Of course, his advisers heartily approved of his declarations of independence. Explaining Gore's support for the seizure of Elián Gonzalez, campaign spokesman Doug Hattaway said: "He understands that people disagree with his position, but he thinks it's the right approach and you have to let the chips fall where they may." Just before the fall campaign, Gore media adviser Carter Eskew said: "I think he's not worrying about expectations, and I think he'll let the chips fall where they do." Before his final debate with George Bush, Senator Max Cleland of Georgia said: "Let Gore be Gore. Turn him loose and let the chips fall where they may." The emergence of the "real" or the "new" Al Gore is an old story. During his 1992 vice presidential campaign, a reporter for the New York Times saw "a new Al Gore — crisper, animated, more to the point, leavened with a bit of impish humor." In fact, the "new" Al Gore appeared in his campaign for the 1988 Democratic nomination. Representative Richard Gephardt, another contender in that race, quipped in 1987: "Maybe the next debate should be between the old Al Gore and the new Al Gore." That was a real zinger. Having Richard Gephardt question your consistency is like having Arthur Andersen question your accounting methods. Gephardt may well battle Gore again, and he'll probably make the same criticisms. But that won't worry Gore, who will let the chips fall where they may. — John J. Pitney Jr. is professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and author of The Art of Political Warfare. |
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aying
he'd "let the chips fall where they may," former Vice President
Gore hinted to a closed-door weekend meeting that he might run for president
again. But this time will be different, he suggested. "If I had it
to do all over again, I'd just let it rip," he said, according to
attendees who spoke with reporters. "To hell with the polls, tactics
and all the rest. I would have poured out my heart and my vision for America's
future."
