Former Vice President Al Gore has endorsed an Iowa congressman who faces a challenge from another Democrat in next week’s primary election. Gore has endorsed Congressman Leonard Boswell in his race against challenger Ed Fallon.
The Gore backing is being touted in Boswell advertising as a means of repeating an often-made complaint about Fallon. Back in 2000, Fallon endorsed independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader. At the time Fallon cited his frustration with Democratic nominee Gore, especially his decision to pick moderate Democrat Joe Lieberman as his runningmate.
Gore lent his name to a Boswell fundraising letter and announced that he and his wife, Tipper, had both given Boswell the maximum donation allowed. Boswell endorsed Gore and campaigned in Iowa with him in 1999 and 2000, and Gore referred to Boswell a "real Democrat" who "stood" by other Democrats "time and time again."
In Boswell’s campaign advertising, Fallon is blamed for helping inflict eight years of George Bush on Democrats because he was among those who backed Nader in 2000.
In this year’s presidential politicking, Fallon backed John Edwards, then endorsed Barack Obama in February. Fallon has called upon Boswell to switch his support from Hillary Clinton to Obama and Fallon’s accused Boswell of ignoring "the will of the people" by remaining a Clinton "super" delegate.
While Gore has endorsed Boswell, he has not publicly said whether he backs Obama or Clinton.