US election 2008

Gore endorses Obama

Article published on the 2008-06-17 Latest update 2008-06-17 08:23 TU

Al Gore and Barack Obama in Michigan.
(Photo : Reuters)

Former US Vice-President and Nobel laureate Al Gore gave Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama his endorsement at a campaign rally in Michigan, Monday evening. Gore refrained from backing either candidate as Obama fought it out with Hillary Clinton for the party nomination.

Gore, who lost the controversial 2000 presidential election to George  Bush, pledged that he would “do whatever I can to make sure (Obama) is elected”. He sharply criticised the Bush administration, saying: “We simply cannot afford to continue the policies of the last eight years.”

Along with former president Bill Clinton, Gore is one of the most well-known and highly respected figures in the Democratic Party. He was one of the few leading Democratic figures to stay on the sidelines during the Democratic nomination battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton but has now put his weight behind the chosen candidate.

Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his film on global warming An Inconvenient Truth, and has become an icon of that battle. Gore characterized Obama as “a candidate who – in response to those doubting our ability to solve the climate crisis and create a bright future – inspired millions to say, yes, we can”.

Obama has announced that he would make pre-election trips to Iraq and Afghanistan before the rally in an attempt to shore up his image against his Republican opponent John McCain, who has visited both war zones and is widely seen as more of an expert in the matter.