Al Gore in Seattle

From the interview by film critic William Arnold in the Seattle P-I:

When former Vice President Al Gore enters the suite of Seattle's Fairmont Olympic Hotel, sizes me up with a quick glance and thrusts out his hand, it's more than evident that he is a man on a mission and -- at this particular moment -- I am the most important person in the world to him.

This single-minded, unconflicted intensity of focus -- the hallmark of a true missionary -- is rare in the famous people I have interviewed in the past, who have mostly been from the greedy and ego-driven world of Hollywood. Clearly, the light of ambition in this man's eyes beams from an entirely different source.

As we sit down to talk, he breaks the ice with a subtle bit of flattery ("We've met before, right? No? You're sure? You look very familiar to me.") and he studies me with a friendly, inquisitive glare, as if gauging whether I might be supportive or hostile to his quest: a journalistic friend or foe.

At age 58, he radiates energy, good health and, above all, this idealistic sense of purpose. Unlike a lot of celebrities out of the camera's eye, he seems totally relaxed and easy in his own skin, even though he would rather be wearing jeans than the standard-issue business suit with which destiny has stuck him.

As we talk for the next 45 minutes, his manner is funny, self-deprecating and effortlessly charming but his message is deadly serious. He does not talk down to me in any way and it seems crucial to him that I get what he's saying, and fully grasp the gravity of the problem he's outlining."

This has to be the most appealing portrait of Al I have ever seen in print. On the other hand, Eric Boehlert asks "Why Is The Press (Still) Unfair To Al Gore?" He provides examples. He does not answer his own question. Video BONUS: "Unseen Al Gore Campaign Video," Part 1 and Part 2. Al landed in New York yesterday and here's one report
another one from The Rude One.