WASHINGTON -- With recent polling data indicating a potential for grassroots support, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said Thursday that the party is considering animating former Vice President Al Gore until end of turn for a 2004 presidential election bid.

A Washington Post-ABC News survey puts an animated Gore ahead of Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.), House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and other potential Democratic candidates in a hypothetical primary.

"Democrat voters are looking for a strong candidate to defeat this current president, who is totally focused on foreign policy and not our struggling economy," McAuliffe said, referring to President Bush. "They want a proven and efficiently costed candidate who will attack this upcoming election with vigor, and the currently stationary former vice president may be that man, considering that he animates for 0."

"Also, even though that taps your lands, you can still animate him if your lands are already tapped. I checked with a level three judge," McAuliffe said.

If a turn isn't enough time to win against Bush, Gore would simply be animated again, McAuliffe said.

Gore narrowly lost to Bush in a hotly contested presidential election in 2000. Some voters may be spoiling for a rematch, although a few analysts are starting to question the wisdom of Democrats fielding a candidate who has essentially been out of politics since leaving office.

"You have to remember, the former vice president had been under President Clinton's control," McAuliffe said. "It's true that he hasn't done anything since then, but when he left Bill Clinton's control he regained summoning sickness. Of course he couldn't do anything while he was sick."

McAuliffe said that Al Gore's strength is in his utility.

"We're blessed, as a party, with many strong potential candidates, from Tom Daschle to Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) to Sen. (John) Kerry (D-Mass.). The former vice president is also there, he's not moving, not going anywhere, and we can animate him anytime we need to."

"That's what is so great about him. What we mean by 'utility' in his case is that he's only animated when we need him to be," McAuliffe said. "The rest of the time he's immune to most removal, because he's just sitting there un-animated and not doing anything."

In other political news, McAuliffe said that this week, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno had been put back in the graveyard at end of turn after losing the primary election race to attorney Bill McBride in Florida. McBride will go on to face Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Janet ran a good race, and I think she should be proud," McAuliffe said. "She got to have her turn, and now that that turn is over, we have put her back in the graveyard as required by her ability."

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WASHINGTON -- With recent polling data indicating a potential for grassroots support, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe said Thursday that the party is considering animating former Vice President Al Gore until end of turn for a 2004 presidential election bid.

A Washington Post-ABC News survey puts an animated Gore ahead of Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.), House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and other potential Democratic candidates in a hypothetical primary.

"Democrat voters are looking for a strong candidate to defeat this current president, who is totally focused on foreign policy and not our struggling economy," McAuliffe said, referring to President Bush. "They want a proven and efficiently costed candidate who will attack this upcoming election with vigor, and the currently stationary former vice president may be that man, considering that he animates for 0."

"Also, even though that taps your lands, you can still animate him if your lands are already tapped. I checked with a level three judge," McAuliffe said.

If a turn isn't enough time to win against Bush, Gore would simply be animated again, McAuliffe said.

Gore narrowly lost to Bush in a hotly contested presidential election in 2000. Some voters may be spoiling for a rematch, although a few analysts are starting to question the wisdom of Democrats fielding a candidate who has essentially been out of politics since leaving office.

"You have to remember, the former vice president had been under President Clinton's control," McAuliffe said. "It's true that he hasn't done anything since then, but when he left Bill Clinton's control he regained summoning sickness. Of course he couldn't do anything while he was sick."

McAuliffe said that Al Gore's strength is in his utility.

"We're blessed, as a party, with many strong potential candidates, from Tom Daschle to Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) to Sen. (John) Kerry (D-Mass.). The former vice president is also there, he's not moving, not going anywhere, and we can animate him anytime we need to."

"That's what is so great about him. What we mean by 'utility' in his case is that he's only animated when we need him to be," McAuliffe said. "The rest of the time he's immune to most removal, because he's just sitting there un-animated and not doing anything."

In other political news, McAuliffe said that this week, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno had been put back in the graveyard at end of turn after losing the primary election race to attorney Bill McBride in Florida. McBride will go on to face Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Janet ran a good race, and I think she should be proud," McAuliffe said. "She got to have her turn, and now that that turn is over, we have put her back in the graveyard as required by her ability."

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!