Former Vice President Al Gore said Monday he “will be voting for Hillary Clinton,” even though he won’t be attending the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Gore, who served as vice president for Bill Clinton, the husband of presumed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, had originally said he will wait until after the party officially nominates a candidate to endorse.
I am not able to attend this year’s Democratic convention, but I will be voting for Hillary Clinton. (1/3)
— Al Gore (@algore) July 25, 2016
Given her qualifications and experience — and given the significant challenges facing our nation and the world, (2/3)
— Al Gore (@algore) July 25, 2016
including, especially, the global climate crisis, I encourage everyone else to do the same. (3/3)
— Al Gore (@algore) July 25, 2016
According to Betsy McManus, Gore won’t be at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia this week because he has unspecified “obligations in Tennessee.”
Gore was not at the 2012 Democratic convention either, but he did speak at the conventions in 2008 and 2004.
“We always welcome him but completely understand his busy schedule and prior engagement,” Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Spencer Bowers said, noting the state party had not talked with Gore about his attendance at this year’s DNC.
Gore has been a leading voice for taking action to fight climate change, and this year’s convention platform is being hailed as the most progressive in history due partly to its climate change policies.
Gore’s daughter, Karenna, goes before a judge later this week after being arrested last month for trespassing and resisting arrest associated with protesting a natural gas pipeline. Protesters say the number of pipelines bringing shale gas to the Northeast via Pennsylvania is exacerbating the phenomenon of global warming by producing more fossil fuels that are harming the Earth’s atmosphere.
Karenna Gore has pleaded not guilty and will appear before a municipal court on Friday with a handful of other protesters.
