Warming to a Gore candidacy

AMHERST – It's been seven years since Al Gore reluctantly conceded the presidency to George W. Bush, but supporters of the guru of global warming believe it's time for the former senator from Tennessee to get back in the game.

Yesterday, a group called Draft Gore used the Amherst Fourth of July parade to launch a petition drive to encourage Gore to join the throngs of candidates vying for President.

Though there are chapters of Draft Gore popping up all over the country, right now, the New Hampshire branch of the organization is focused on securing at least 5,000 signatures from registered Granite State voters who are in favor of seeing Gore run.

"We want to send Al Gore a message that the people of New Hampshire support him," said Farrell Seiler, state chairman for Draft Gore. "We already have about 500 signatures so far, and we've just started the petition drive." Seiler said the Draft Gore campaign is taking advantage of the lukewarm poll numbers garnered by the major Democratic candidates like Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, none of whom is carrying a significant majority of likely voters.

"The people of New Hampshire are saying that we need some real leadership here," said Seiler. "Al Gore has the experience to lead our nation."

Through the grassroots efforts of Draft Gore, Seiler said, the organization is poised to build up a long list of volunteers who will jump in to support Gore should he decide to run.

"We're going to let the momentum build, but we're also asking people to commit to helping the campaign," Seiler said.

For more information, visit www.draftgorene.com.