You're Great, Al Baby; Now, Please Get Lost!

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Oct 2, 2000 | by John Elvin

Al Gore has some wonderful qualities about him," according to faint praise offered by Donald Dunn, a Utah Democrat who is challenging Republican Rep. Chris Cannon. "But I'm going to make sure he doesn't come out here and stand on the platform with me for a fund-raiser." That seems to express the general mood among Democrats in Utah, according to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune. Bill Orton, the party's candidate for governor, asked if Gore would be in the state for a political rally, responded: "Oh, I hope not."

Democrats in Utah don't want Gore around because he brings to mind the scandals and lan&grab controversies of the Clinton administration. There seems no doubt that the majority of Utah votes in the presidential contest will go to Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Not even the head of the state's Democratic Party could offer Gore any encouragement. "He's very busy in the battle-ground states," said Chairwoman Meghan Holbrook, "and that's where he should spend his time."