While House members have been consumed with the debate on impeaching the current President, some Democrats have been looking ahead to the 2000 campaign and to the race to succeed him. Vice President Al Gore remains the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination — one reason why Sen. Robert Kerrey of Nebraska announced on Dec. 13 that he would not enter the race.
But other Democrats are expected to take on Gore. Former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey established an exploratory committee earlier this month and has enlisted the help of several political pros in the effort. In April, Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota began his exploratory committee; the liberal Democrat has already set up an aggressive direct mail fund-raising effort for what would certainly be a long-shot bid.
The biggest unknown is whether House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri will join the fray. Gephardt is not expected to make a decision until January, but the betting now is that he will decide not to run, sensing that his chances of becoming Speaker in 2000
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