Gore Rallies Convention Delegates With Call for Change
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Thursday, August 28, 2008; 9:20 PM
DENVER -- Former Vice President Al Gore issued a ringing call this evening for a change of direction in the nation's policies and castigated those who defend the status quo in his speech at Invesco Field on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
"Why is this election so close?" Gore asked the more than 70,000 people gathered at the football stadium the Denver Broncos call home. "I believe this election is close today because the forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Obama represents."
Gore appeared on stage just before 9 p.m. ET and received a raucous welcome from the assembled masses. Gore, a Nobel prize winner, has largely avoided the political limelight since his defeat at the hands of George W. Bush in 2000 -- instead devoting much of his time warning of the dangers posed by global warming.
But Gore said he felt compelled to come to Denver because "we must seize this opportunity to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States."
Gore also referenced his narrow loss in 2000, pointing out that many people didn't believe at that time that there was much difference between him and Bush. "I doubt anyone would argue that now," Gore said to applause.
He went on to castigate Republican presidential candidate John McCain as a clone of President Bush.
"If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, then John McCain is your man," said Gore. The former vice president also painted McCain as someone who has abandoned core principals -- particularly on Gore's pet issue of global climate change -- in favor of the policies backed by the Bush Administration. "I believe in recycling but that's ridiculous," Gore said.
