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.