Gore throws support to Obama

DETROIT, June 16 (UPI) -- Al Gore, the former vice president cum environmental superstar, Monday evening endorsed fellow Democrat Barack Obama for U.S. president.

The former U.S. senator from Tennessee, who narrowly lost the presidency to George Bush eight years ago, exhorted a throng of about 20,000 Obama supporters in Joe Louis Arena to take the election seriously, The New York Times reported.

"Looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000," Gore said. "Take it from me, elections matter. If you think the next appointments to the Supreme Court are important, you know that elections matter."

Gore, who has won numerous awards for his efforts to draw attention to global warming, outlined a laundry list of ills facing the nation and called the Illinois senator, who is expected to face Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the general election this fall, "clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America."

Obama, if elected, said he would count on Gore to help him "lead the fight for a clean energy future here in the United States and around the world."