GORE: I DECIDED NOT TO RUN IN 2000, TOO
Kept Decision Not to Run a Secret Throughout 2000 Campaign
Last night, jubilant Democrats from coast to coast celebrated the news that former standard bearer Al Gore had decided not to run for President again in 2004, as NO GORE IN 04 parties spontaneously erupted across the country.
But even as Democrats celebrated Mr. Gores decision to call it quits for 2004, the former veep had another bombshell up his sleeve, as he revealed today that he had also decided not to run for President back in 2000 -- during the presidential race itself.
I decided not to run for President during the 2000 campaign, but kept it a secret so as not to disappoint my supporters, Mr. Gore told CNNs Larry King tonight.
Mr. Gore said he decided not to run for President sometime during the New Hampshire primary and stuck with his decision throughout the balance of the 2000 race, showing up for rallies and speeches, but always knowing in my heart of hearts that I wasnt really running.
The former Vice President admits that keeping his decision not to run for President in 2000 a secret became increasingly tricky, especially during the nationally televised debates.
I was terrified that people watching those debates would figure out that I wasnt running for President, Mr. Gore said. Thankfully, no one caught on.
Mr. Gores decision not to run for President in 2004 leaves the race wide open for other candidates, but one possible entrant, actor Sean Penn, ruled himself out of the race today.
Speaking from Baghdad, Mr. Penn told reporters that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for President and would instead focus on running for President of Iraq.
****Borowitz Reports****
Kept Decision Not to Run a Secret Throughout 2000 Campaign
Last night, jubilant Democrats from coast to coast celebrated the news that former standard bearer Al Gore had decided not to run for President again in 2004, as NO GORE IN 04 parties spontaneously erupted across the country.
But even as Democrats celebrated Mr. Gores decision to call it quits for 2004, the former veep had another bombshell up his sleeve, as he revealed today that he had also decided not to run for President back in 2000 -- during the presidential race itself.
I decided not to run for President during the 2000 campaign, but kept it a secret so as not to disappoint my supporters, Mr. Gore told CNNs Larry King tonight.
Mr. Gore said he decided not to run for President sometime during the New Hampshire primary and stuck with his decision throughout the balance of the 2000 race, showing up for rallies and speeches, but always knowing in my heart of hearts that I wasnt really running.
The former Vice President admits that keeping his decision not to run for President in 2000 a secret became increasingly tricky, especially during the nationally televised debates.
I was terrified that people watching those debates would figure out that I wasnt running for President, Mr. Gore said. Thankfully, no one caught on.
Mr. Gores decision not to run for President in 2004 leaves the race wide open for other candidates, but one possible entrant, actor Sean Penn, ruled himself out of the race today.
Speaking from Baghdad, Mr. Penn told reporters that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for President and would instead focus on running for President of Iraq.
****Borowitz Reports****
