Is Al Gore Or John Kerry Viable As A Presidential Candidate In 2016? The History Of Henry Clay, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, And Richard Nixon!

Speculation has risen not only that Vice President Joe Biden might announce for President, but also that former Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of State John Kerry, both who lost the Presidency to George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 respectively, might decide to try for the White House yet again.

Although Hillary Clinton seems to many like a shoo-in for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2016, there are signs of discontent with her, and feelings among many that she is too secretive, not trustworthy, and not all that likable.

The odds are still heavily in favor of her nomination, but there are many who feel Biden, and possibly Gore and or Kerry, should consider running, as it is felt that Bernie Sanders, while performing well right now in regards to crowds and fund raising, ultimately cannot be expected to win the nomination, with his Socialist connections being harmful, due to many Americans misunderstanding the term, and being told it is harmful and dangerous.

But the question arises about Gore and Kerry, that they have both been out of the Presidential game for a very long time, with Gore out 16 years and having no public office since his loss in 2000, despite having won the popular vote over George W. Bush; and Kerry, having served in the Senate after his defeat, until he became Secretary of State after Hillary Clinton left the State Department in 2013, but being out of the Presidential race for 12 years by 2016.

So history is a guide here.

It turns out four Presidential candidates had been out of the Presidential field for very long times, as follows:

Henry Clay lost the Presidential race in 1824, and then 8 years later in 1832, he was nominated again. Then 12 years later, in 1844, he was nominated for the third and last time. Twelve years is a long time!

Abraham Lincoln last held public office in 1848, when he left the House of Representatives after one 2 year term. But then, 12 years later, he ran for President and won!

Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for Vice President in 1920 and lost, and then was sidelined by polio, not running again for public office until 8 years later, when he won the Governorship of New York in 1928. Four years later, and 12 years after losing the Vice Presidency, he won the Presidency in 1932!

Finally, Richard Nixon lost the Presidency in 1960 and lost, then ran for California Governor in 1962 and lost, and yet came back 6 years later, after 8 years out of office, and yet won the Presidential Election of 1968!

Are Al Gore and John Kerry as long shots as Clay, Lincoln, FDR, and Nixon were?

That is the issue to confront, and this author would say that while both of them seem “long shots”, we have had other “long shots”, who few thought had a chance to win the Presidency, and in recent times yet—John F. Kennedy (Catholic issue) in 1960; Jimmy Carter (Southern issue) in 1976; Bill Clinton (Sex Scandal issue) in 1992; and Barack Obama (Race issue) in 2008!

So literally, anything is possible in American Presidential politics!

4 comments on “Is Al Gore Or John Kerry Viable As A Presidential Candidate In 2016? The History Of Henry Clay, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, And Richard Nixon!

  1. D July 20, 2015 12:10 pm

    Their time has passed.

    I also think that their personas were a problem.

    I will apply this as well to Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

  2. Ronald July 20, 2015 12:13 pm

    D, why do you include John Kasich in this, as in many ways, he is the best candidate on the GOP side. Please explain!

  3. D July 20, 2015 2:48 pm

    Ronald,

    It’s a combination of things.

    I don’t think the Ohio governor is going to be president of the United States. John Kasich doesn’t have a persona that grabs people, on a national scale, toward him. It’s like an attraction. He’s lacking in it.

    Kasich only looks good when we talk about his party and in terms of him being not appearing to be as out of touch as most of his colleagues.

    His time, if we was going to get his party’s nomination, would have been around 2000; and Kasich didn’t have a feasible shot back then because the Bush family struck, and they had the money to fund George W. Bush, in such a dominant form. (Bush carried over 40 states during primary season.) That family is getting ready to strike again, with this advantage, for 2016.

    (The thing about timing is important: Bob Dole and Mitt Romney appeared to have run for president at least two decades too late. For them. And it doesn’t help that, between being in the U.S. House of Representatives and then winning election to become a governor, Kasich was out of office for an estimated 10 years.)

    The Bushes, and many of the powerful money elite, want Jeb for a third Bush presidency. And I’m thinking the ex-Florida governor will be the Republican Party nominee for 2016. If that materializes, we’ll find out if the country is willing to elect a third President Bush. (My guess: no.)

    I don’t mean to cheapen the office of president of the United States. But, after television became established, nearly every president has had some sort of star image. That attracts people. And it draws people and their support. I don’t think that John Kasich is a star.

  4. Ronald July 20, 2015 3:08 pm

    Thanks for your detailed response, D.

    What you explain makes sense, and probably will happen, but I think Kasich is actually the best person they have on their side.

    Thanks again for your contributions, as always!

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