By Dan Geddes

WASHINGTON—Al Gore ended months of speculation today by announcing his vice presidential running mate, President Bill Clinton.

Trailing Republican candidate George W. Bush by approximately 10 percentage points in recent polls, Gore cited Clinton’s strong appeal among women and African-American voters, and even offered, if elected, to resign the Oval Office and let Clinton serve the first two years of his term as President, as is allowed by the 25^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “Then Bill could nominate me as Vice-President, resign after two years, and I would serve as commander-in-chief for two years. Then I could run as the incumbent in 2004.”