I'm going to borrow the phrase that CNN loves to use to describe the political motions candidates go through on a daily basis in this marathon of a race. Barack Obama nailed it today by mentioning the mystical and cherished name of Al Gore. Just mentioning his name as a Cabinet pick is all it takes? Yep, it was that easy.
From The Huffington Post:
WALLINGFORD, Pa. — Sen. Barack Obama said Wednesday he would give Al Gore, a Nobel prize winner, a major role in an Obama administration to address the problem of global warming.
At a town-hall meeting, Obama was asked if he would tap the former vice president for his Cabinet to handle global warming.
"I would," Obama said. "Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He's somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I'm already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now."
So why was this so brilliant you ask?
Well Barack is in a tricky period of this campaign. The pieces are falling from the Clinton campaign and barring some sort of miracle, he will be the nominee. Therefore he must begin to repair the division in the party created by this primary race and get ready for the general election.
Many Hillary Clinton supporters are diehard Democrats and even their devotion to Hillary, Al Gore has become a scion of the party. His work to raise awareness about the environment and the action he has taken is awe-inspiring, not only to Democrats but to people throughout the world. Many have accepted that he has now superceded the American political realm, but that doesn't mean he can't play a pivotal role in helping America to work towards solving the climate crisis.
That type of talk from Barack oozes good feelings and thats why (as CNN's Bill Schneider says) Barack Obama had the political play of the day.
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