A Draft Al Gore group delivered the former vice president more than 100,000 signatures on a petition urging him to mount a White House bid.

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A Draft Al Gore group delivered the former vice president more than 100,000 signatures on a petition urging him to mount a White House bid.


Draft Gore organizers brought the list of Gore fans to the Democrat's Nashville office yesterday morning, and called the number a "major milestone."


"This enormous outpouring of support for Al Gore is testimony both to his enduring appeal among the grassroots and to the dissatisfaction of the Democratic base with the current crop of declared candidates," said Monica Friedlander, chairman of the draft effort, which has been spotted here and in New Hampshire, New York, Iowa and California.


The group also is running radio ads to persuade Gore to jump in the race. They noted in a release the results of a recent New Hampshire poll showing Gore could win the Granite State should he run.


"Because of its comments section filled with personal stories and direct pleas to Gore, the petition represents a historic portrait of the reborn populist movement in this country -- and not just among Democrats. Surprisingly, a very large number of signatures come from independents and Republicans, many of whom regret not voting for Gore in 2000," the group noted.


Here's a sample of the list's personal comments lauding Gore.

# "I am a lifelong Republican and in 2000 I foolishly voted for President Bush. I was wrong. I am older and wiser now. I wish to offer my support and help in my very GOP state of Wyoming." -- Philip Hritzak, Casper, WY

# "Mr. Gore, my son is going into Iraq today. Please run and bring some reason to this world. He is in the 3rd ID. Please help!" -- Sharon Pote, Booneville, AR

# "There's no higher calling, than when a nation asks for you to lead. We are asking you to lead now, and I hope you'll rise to it." -- Jarrett Wold, Minot, ND

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who lost to President Bush in 2004, called Gore a "great leader" on the environment in a recent interview with this Fishwrapper.


"I've learned never to urge anybody ... people have to make up their own minds," Kerry said when asked if Gore should run in 2008. "He'd clearly be a very credible candidate if he decided to do it. He won once, he just didn't get inaugurated."


-- Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times