Gore ‘Not Planning’ 2008 White House Run

By ROSE FRENCH

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Former Vice President Al Gore got the same question at a hometown book signing Friday that he gets all over the world when pitching his documentary and book on global warming. Will he run for president in 2008?

"I’m not planning on it, but thanks for encouraging me," was the pat answer given by Gore at the first signing for the book in his home state of Tennessee.

The Democrats’ nominee for the White House in 2000, Gore says he has all but ruled out running for president in two years – saying the best use of his time is to educate people about the urgency of global climate change.

The movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," debuted at last winter’s Sundance Film Festival and opened in U.S. theaters last month, when the book of the same title also went on sale.

Gore, who served as Tennessee senator from 1985-93 after eight years in the House, renewed his ties to the Volunteer State following the 2000 presidential election – buying a home in Nashville and teaching courses at Middle Tennessee State University.

Nearly 800 people lined up at the Davis-Kidd bookstore, store manager Tony Mize said. Some waved old Gore campaign placards while others took pictures of the former vice president with cell phones and digital cameras. Almost 1,200 copies of the book were sold.

"Whether you agree with him or not, you have to be fascinated by the topic. He has really deep roots in this community," Mize said.

He said the last time the bookstore had a signing "with this kind of affection" was about 10 years ago, when country legend Johnny Cash signed copies of his memoir.

Andra McDowell, 39, a teacher from Nashville, said she worked on Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000 and asked a photographer with a local newspaper to get a picture of Gore signing her copy of his book.

"I’m excited to see him. I’m a big fan of Gore and his issues. My dad was a soil conservationist, so I grew up as a tree-hugger," McDowell said. "I would like to see him run again. I would vote for him."