Al Gore falls to earth

HIS hand on his heart, his words slowed to suggest painstaking sincerity, Vice-President Al Gore faced his tormenters on March 3rd. A day earlier, the Washington Post had published an unflattering account of Mr Gore's role in raising campaign money: the vice-president had hosted 23 coffee meetings for contributors in the White House, and had solicited donations on the telephone as well. And so now Mr Gore faced the press in the White House briefing room, hoping to defend his honour. He declared that he was proud of his role in raising money, then undermined that claim by promising to make no more money-grubbing phone calls. He protested that he “thought” and “felt” that all his actions had been legal. The journalists smelled blood.