Al Gore is still bitter about losing the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush.
“Your vote really, really, really counts,” the former vice president and failed presidential candidate said Tuesday at a campaign rally in Florida for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
“You can consider me as an ‘Exhibit A’ of that truth,” he added to laughter.
“Now, for those of you who are younger than 25,” Gore continued, “you might not remember the election of 2000 and what happened here in Florida and across the country.”
The crowd went from laughing to booing, as they emphasized with Gore for his reference to his failed bid for the White House.
“For those of you who are older than 25, I heard you murmuring just now,” Gore said. “But take it from me it was a very close election.”
The crowd then interrupted Gore’s address to chant, “You won! You won!”
The former vice president won the popular vote in 2000, besting Bush by 48 percent to 47 percent. However, Bush beat Gore in the Electoral College by 271 to 266. The 2000 also election came down to a recount in Florida, which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore. The former Texas governor won with 537 more votes than Gore in the Sunshine State.
“Here’s my point: I don’t want you to be in a position years from now where you welcome Hillary Clinton and say, ‘Actually, you did win. It just wasn’t close enough to make sure that all the votes were counted’ or whatever,” Gore said at the rally in Florida.
“Election have consequences,” he said. “Your vote counts. Your vote has consequences.”
