Dean wins surprise backing of Gore in Democratic race

THE front-runner among nine Democrats vying to challenge George Bush in next year’s US presidential election had a major boost yesterday when he was backed by Al Gore.

Howard Dean won the surprise backing of former Vice President Gore, who said Mr Dean had the “best chance to win and the best chance to lead our country in the right direction”.

The decision came as a bitter blow to Mr Gore’s running mate from the 2000 campaign, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.

Mr Lieberman said the announcement came as a surprise, adding it was now less likely there would be a place for Mr Gore in a Lieberman administration.

Speaking in Harlem, New York City, Mr Gore said: “Howard Dean really is the only candidate who has been able to inspire at the grass roots level all over this country the kind of passion and enthusiasm for democracy and change and transformation of America that we need in this country.”

Mr Gore appealed to the Democratic candidates to maintain unity, despite their current contest for the party nomination. He said: “This is about all of us and all of us need to get behind the strongest candidate. This nation cannot afford to have four more years of a Bush-Cheney administration.”

Mr Gore’s endorsement comes as a major coup for former Vermont Governor Mr Dean as it cements him as the front-runner to win the Democratic nomination.

Among his rivals are Vietnam veteran and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and former NATO supreme allied commander in the Kosovo War, retired general Wesley Clark.