(born 1948) Son of the distinguished Democratic Party senator from Tennessee, Gore grew up between Washington, DC and Carthage, Tennessee before attending Harvard and enlisting for service in Vietnam. He later worked as a journalist and attended Vanderbilty Divinity and Law Schools before joining Congress in 1977 and becoming a senator in 1984. He ran unsuccessfully in a crowded Democratic primary field in 1988, but became Bill Clinton’s running-mate in 1992, serving two terms as vice-president. Gore has claimed special commitment to and expertise in environmental issues (Earth in the Balance, 1992) and telecommunications. Heir to Clinton, in his 2000 presidential campaign Gore was both tainted by administrative scandals and unable to project the charisma that had carried Clinton through. His sober, wooden delivery and gaffes became the stuff of political satire. His performance at the Democratic Conventions, however, forced a tighter race with George Bush.