Trial Balloons.

After the humbling defeat of Election Tuesday, Dem presidential hopefuls start taking tentative steps down a more combative course. First Daschle rightfully questioned the terrorism initiative in the wake of the recent Bin Laden tape, and now Gore is outwardly questioning the Supreme Court for its 2000 election decision. Speaking of which, anyone hoping beyond hope for a "new" Candidate Gore in 2004 should just take note of how loudly the gears are grinding here. The Gores have two books coming out - Joined at the Heart (as a friend of mine noted, a truly awful name that conjures up visions of Chang and Eng) and The Spirit of Family - aimed at resurrecting whatever national goodwill Al managed to muster by "The Kiss" at the Democratic Convention. As usual, Gore's making his points ham-fistedly.