Ambitious Democrats eye future presidential races in case Gore loses

By Ron Fournier/Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The first rumblings of the 2004 campaign are being felt at the Democratic National Convention, with Joe Biden, John Kerry and other party leaders quietly laying the groundwork in case Al Gore loses.

Even before the vice president arrives this week to accept his party's nomination, the race is on to claim the Democratic mantle once he gives it up -- whenever that might be.

"They're circling like buzzards. They do it at every convention, in both parties," said Republican consultant David Carney, who watched ambitious GOP politicians jockey at Bob Dole's 1996 convention for this year's nomination.

Stirring the pot for 2004 or some future race, several Democrats are visiting key delegations, expanding their lists of donors and addressing the convention itself.

They include:

_Biden, 57, a senator from Delaware whose 1988 presidential bid was derailed by accusations of plagiarism. He is scheduled to address the Iowa and New Hampshire delegations, maintaining his ties with activists in the first-in-the-nation caucus and primary states. Biden has scheduled at least one fund-raiser and one of his advisers, Ted Kaufman, said, "I don't have any doubt that he will run for president again."

_Kerry, 56, a senator from Massachusetts who made Gore's short list for vice president. He is considering a visit to New Hampshire this fall on behalf of the state's Democratic governor, Jeanne Shaheen. Kerry is addressing both the Iowa and New Hampshire delegations. He also is scheduled to attend several fund-raisers on behalf of Democratic senators.

_Gray Davis, 57, the California governor who is keeping a busy schedule as the convention's host. He squeezed in fund-raisers for Shaheen, the Democratic party itself and a powerful women's group. Davis is addressing delegates from vote-rich New York and Florida but he has no plans to visit Democrats from Iowa or New Hampshire. "Let's not even go there," he said Sunday, dismissing any talk of a future presidential race.

_House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, 59, landed a valuable speaking role as a result of his leadership post. He also is addressing Iowa and New Hampshire delegates, plus those from presidential battleground states such as Missouri, New Jersey, Florida and California.

_Former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, 57, is addressing the delegates he won during his primary fight against Gore, but he has no plans to visit Iowa, New Hampshire or other key delegations. Bradley landed a high-profile speaking role and scheduled dozens of media interviews.

Though Bradley hasn't abandoned his presidential aspirations, spokeswoman Anita Dunn said "there was no talk internally about a more ambitious schedule" at the convention.

It is a time-honored tradition for party leaders to keep active convention schedules, energizing delegates about the nominee and building ties for future presidential races.

"This is the usual game of serving your nominee and serving your own ambitions," said William Benoit, a professor of political communications at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Kaufman, who served as Biden's administrative assistant for more than 20 years, said Biden is a strong supporter of Gore and hopes the vice president beats Republican nominee George W. Bush and serves two successful terms.

"But if he doesn't win, (Biden) will very likely run in 2004," Kaufman said.

Davis said he is helping Shaheen in his capacity as a leader of the Democratic Governors Association. He also landed a speaking role at the convention.

Gephardt, as architect of the Democratic campaign to take control of the House, has a job that puts him in front of every major Democratic constituency group this week. The Missouri lawmaker nearly jumped into the 2000 race, and advisers don't rule out a future bid.

"We expect to be into our second term as speaker and campaigning for the re-election of Al Gore in 2004," said Gephardt spokeswoman Laura Nichols.

Kerry spokesman Jim Jordan dismissed any talk about presidential ambitions. "John's confident that he'll spend 2004 campaigning for Al Gore's re-election," he said.

Carney, who worked for Dole when Steve Forbes and Lamar Alexander lobbied GOP delegates in 1996, said that at this year's Republican convention, he didn't see "pretenders or contenders meeting with delegates and giving a wink and nod and saying, "I'll be here if you need me."'

"That was a good sign for Bush," Carney said. "Having been on the other side, I can tell you it must be very disheartening for Gore to see these people lining up."

However, Benoit noted that Arizona Sen. John McCain kept a busy schedule at Bush's convention, a signal that he would be ready for 2004 if Bush loses to Gore.

"In politics, ambition never takes a back seat -- not even for four days," he said.

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