WASHINGTON -- The Florida Democratic Convention provided the platform for the return of former Vice President Albert Gore to the national political scene last weekend. He jumped in with both feet in Florida, accusing President George W. Bush of a litany of misconceived policies, from the economy to the environment, that are "wrong for America."
Gore was the centerpiece of a passel of national Democrats who visited Lake Buena Vista for the party's biennial convention. The meeting was ostensibly to make plans for the state's important elections this fall, including how to challenge Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother. But it turned into the first "cattle call" of the 2004 presidential election.
Gore may have been the headliner, but he had real competition from others who aspire to lead the Democratic party in 2004. Also on hand was his 2000 running mate, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, as well as North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd -- not a full pack, but enough to let Gore know that he will have competition for the nod in 2004 if he decides to make a run for it.