NBC Anchor Nags Gore to Run for President

Meredith Vieira might as well have been cheerleading “G-O-R-E: He’s the candidate we want to see” in her July 5 interview with the former vice president.

After Gore said he did not “have any plans or intentions to be a candidate,” the NBC “Today” anchor pressured him to reconsider.

Vieira cited public support – “the polls show in this country at least, people agree with you – a majority of people agree this is the number one issue in terms of our environment.”

Gore warned that we must “solve” global warming and said that the next president will be “crucial” to the solution. Vieira then urged his candidacy again.

“But if this is the number one moral issue and the president is the key player here, then why wouldn’t the man whose face – is the face of the issue be running for president?” Vieira asked. Gore insisted the “American people” were the key players, but Vieira continued to press the matter. “But, the president sets the agenda,” Vieira interrupted.

Even Vieira acknowledged that she was “beating a dead horse or donkey, I guess in this case” before asking him if he has absolutely decided not to run.

Gore said he would not make a “Sherman” statement, but “If I do my job right, then all of them [the presidential candidates] will make this their top issue.”