By Devin Henry - 09/16/16 09:23 AM EDT
Hillary Clinton’s campaign it talking to former Vice President Al Gore about how he could help the Democratic presidential nominee, who is struggling to build her support against competition from third-party candidates.
The New York Times reported Friday that Clinton’s team is discussing ways to bring Gore into the fold between now and November.
His role, according to the report, would be to emphasize Clinton’s support for taking on climate change, something that might appeal to younger voters who polls suggest are not warming up to Clinton.
Gore might also be able to convince voters that a third-party ballot could end up electing Republican Donald Trump, in the Clinton campaign's view.
“I can assure you from personal experience that every vote counts,” Gore told the Times in an email. “The stakes are high for so many Americans. So I will vote for Hillary Clinton and I strongly encourage others to vote for her as well.”
Clinton’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
Gore backs Clinton but has stayed on the sidelines of this presidential race. His endorsement came in the form of three tweets during the Democratic National Convention, and he hasn’t campaigned for her or other candidates this year.
Friends and allies say he’s increasingly focused on his climate advocacy, a cause that won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
But Gore has previously discussed his views on how votes for third party candidates could cost a Democrat.
The 2000 Democratic presidential nominee has first-hand experience after winning that election's popular vote but losing he electoral college. Some still think Green Party candidate Ralph Nader cost Gore the election.
Gore told ThinkProgess in August that the “harsh reality is that we have two principal choices” in the presidential election. Clinton, he said, is better on climate issues than Trump.
National and battleground state polls show a tightening race, and suggest many voters turned off by Trump and Clinton are turning to Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/296284-clinton-wants-gore-to-warn-voters-off-third-parties
