Getting Ready For Gore 2004?
Just two days after conceding defeat in the hotly contested presidential race, Vice President Al Gore moved Friday to install an ally at the top of the Democratic National Committee.
Terry McAuliffe, the party's most prolific fund-raiser, is set to become national chairman after meeting Friday with Gore and receiving the blessing of President Clinton, a longtime ally and friend.
Installing McAuliffe insures Gore an ally at the head of the party as he considers whether to begin positioning himself for another run for the presidency in 2004. It also leaves Clinton's clear stamp on the party, as he prepares to leave office Jan. 20.
McAuliffe, a golfing buddy of Clinton, has raised tens of millions of dollars for the party, the president and Gore over the years. He was chairman of the 2000 national convention corporation in Los Angeles, brought in to ensure the event wasn't a money-loser.
Last May, he directed a Democratic fund-raiser/concert that brought in $26.5 million, a record one-day haul for either major political party.
He replaces national Chairman Joe Andrew, who is the former chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party.
Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell, the party's general chairman, and Andrew are leaving their positions, both saying that they had long intended to depart after the 2000 presidential election.
Rendell, however, angered Gore's team by announcing minutes after an adverse U.S. Supreme Court ruling Tuesday night that Gore needed to concede. Rendell's DNC colleagues immediately denounced his statement.
Rendell is expected to run for governor of Pennsylvania in 2002.
"I saw very early on that as the youngest guy to ever have had this job it was time for me to make some money," Andrew, 40, said in a telephone interview.
Andrew plans to help McAuliffe work with state party chairmen.
McAuliffe will be officially installed as National Democratic Chairman in the Spring when the committee meets at a time appointed by Andrew. Andrew said he has not scheduled the committee meeting yet.