NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Former Vice President Al Gore Tuesday endorsed Howard Dean for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination at a rally in New York.
Gore said he decided to back Dean because he was only person of the nine announced Democratic candidates who "inspires" the electorate at the grass-roots level.
He said Dean deserves support because the former Vermont governor has "the best chance to win and lead out country in the right direction."
The move from Gore, a high-profile party insider, is considered a big boost for Dean, who has run his campaign as a party outsider.
Dean was already the front-runner for the nomination. The latest CNN/USA Today nationwide poll of registered Democrats showed Dean leading with the support of 25 percent of respondents. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark was in second at 17 percent.
Gore, who pulled in more popular votes than George Bush in the 2000 race for the White House but lost the presidency in the Electoral College, had considered a run in 2004 himself, but withdrew last year.
