Gore tells voters to back Obama

DETROIT — Al Gore made his debut in the 2008 presidential campaign Monday night, encouraging voters to back Barack Obama because "take it from me, elections matter."

The former vice president's speech at the Joe Louis Arena was part endorsement and part blistering attack on the man who denied him the White House eight years ago.

"After eight years of incompetence, neglect and failure, we need change," Gore said. "After eight years when our Constitution has been dishonored and disrespected, we need changes."

In 2000, Gore won the popular vote but lost the disputed election to George W. Bush, who captured Florida and its electoral votes after a divided Supreme Court ended the recount of ballots. Since then, Gore has made combating global warming his signature issue and has been recognized worldwide for his effort — from an Academy Award to the Nobel Prize.

Obama stoked lasting anger over the 2000 outcome when he recognized Gore as "the winner of the popular vote for president."

"You remember that," Obama said to the crowd of 20,000.

Gore is one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, but he stayed out of the primary campaign.

It's the second time Obama has rolled out a major endorsement in Michigan, where he did not campaign during the primary because the state's election violated national party rules. Obama is counting on a win in Michigan in November, but he brought Gore and 2004 vice-presidential nominee John Edwards to help validate him among Democrats in the state after skipping their primary.

"I'm grateful Al Gore came to Detroit tonight," Obama said. "But I'm ever more grateful for everything he's done in the last 40 years for this country."

Gore revealed his decision in a fundraising e-mail earlier Monday. "From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected president of the United States," Gore wrote.

Also Monday, Obama's campaign named new senior advisers, including former Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle as chief of staff to the presidential candidate's yet-to-be-chosen running mate.

Also heading the list of new top aides are Jim Messina, former chief of staff to Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, who will be Obama's chief of staff, and Stephanie Cutter, communications director to Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign who will be a senior adviser to Obama and chief of staff to Obama's wife, Michelle.