While Karenna was speaking, a cameraman tapped on a hulking mass of a man, motioning him to get out of the way so he could get a better shot of the striking blond mother of two. The hulking mass he was shoving aside was the former vice president of the United States, the candidate who captured the 2000 popular vote -- if not the electoral or the Supreme Court votes -- two years ago. It recalled the farce just days before, when the geniuses at Midwest Express security singled out and selected Gore for random security screening at Reagan National Airport in Washington, before a flight to Milwaukee -- and then again, before Gore flew from Milwaukee to New York.

Gore's speech was full of the same jokes he's been making at fundraisers and state Democratic Party events for the last few months. He's a visiting professor -- or "V.P. for short." He misses motorcades. He and Tipper eat at Shoney's. He's concerned about the economy -- "I was the first one laid off, a year ago."

Laughter. Beat.

"That's not funny."

Chuckles, some a bit uncomfortable.

Then: hitting pitches that should be easily hit by any Democrat, given the Bush administration's conservative record and the shameless corporate corruption of Enron, et al. And an attempt to tie them together: Pitt should be "the point man on ensuring the integrity of financial statements." Instead he's holding "private meetings" with the corrupt CEOs of companies whom he formerly represented as an attorney. "That's wrong," Gore said. "He ought to resign. They ought to wake up and realize that the Bush-Cheney economic policy is a total catastrophe for America."

There were words he should have said more than two years ago: "I don't care what anybody says, Bill Clinton and I did a damn good job." Biggest cheers of the night.

With little style or cadence, he concluded by reminding a bunch of Manhattan liberal Democrats to support Democratic candidates in November. And bada-bing, it was mercifully over.

This weekend, the Memphis retreat will bring five dozen or so Democratic donors together. Three key Gore moneymen will be in the house -- former finance director Peter Knight, former finance chair Johnny Hayes and longtime Gore moneyman Jody Trappaso -- along with a trio of his closest advisors -- general adviser Elaine Kamarck, foreign relations advisor Leon Fuerth, environmental advisor Katie McGinty. But few Gore political staffers will be there. Just the aforementioned wonks, Karenna and dog-loyal former traveling chief of staff Mike Feldman, plus 2000 campaign deputy Donnie Fowler. Many of his previous loyalists, for now, are elsewhere. Former Democratic National Committee field guy Michael Whouley is helping 2004 wannabe Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in his nothing of a reelection contest; media gurus Bob Shrum and Tad Devine are with wannabe Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who is holding his own private retreat for 50 or so supporters on St. Simons Island, Ga., at the same time. Former campaign manager Donna Brazile, disillusioned with Gore's reluctance to actually try to "count every vote" during the Florida recount, is working for the Democratic Party. "That doesn't surprise me in the least," a senior aide close to Gore says of his former colleagues' various activities. "The livelihood of these guys depends on some of these Senate Democrats; it makes sense for them to keep their powder dry.

"Especially since Gore has not said that he's going to run yet."

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