The kiss that helped Gore emerge from Clinton's shadow

Bill Clinton, through his actions with Monica Lewinsky, helped increase the public's desire to have a change in Washington, while Ralph Nader took away many of the liberal voters who would otherwise have gone to Gore.

In many states, including Florida, Gore would have comfortably won without Nader's presence.

Al Gore's future

And what now for Al? Both candidates were scions of political dynasties, but it was Gore who was bred for the presidency from birth and whose every political move was made with that goal in sight, while until recently most assumed it would be Florida Governor Jeb Bush who would follow his father rather than the more wayward elder son, George.

Did Clinton lose the presidency for his vice-president?

In many ways it was Gore's very desperation for the office, set against Bush's lazy charm that did him so much damage.

It was probably that hunger that drove a man whom everyone agrees is deeply principled to make absurd comments about things like inventing the internet to boost his image, but ending up appearing as someone who was willing to say and do whatever it took to win.

That same hunger also led him to keep fighting in Florida even after things began to look bad rather than step down graciously - something which might have improved his chances of a comeback.

The rematch?

A defeat is not the end of the line for Gore though.

Most likely he will try to cleanse himself from the hell of the campaign by engaging in a more intellectual pursuit, maybe writing some books on issues he has showed aptitude for, like the environment.

But ultimately it is hard to imagine him keeping away from politics for very long.

And many candidates have had more than one shot at the presidential prize.

The obvious historical precedent is 1960 - then a vice-president was beaten by a whisker by a young, charismatic, relatively inexperienced opponent amid allegations of voter fraud.

Eight years after John F Kennedy, vice-president Richard Nixon took his turn on the steps of the Capitol to take the Oath of Office.

So in Gore's mind may be the thought of a 2004 rematch - Gore versus Bush part II.

But such a path would not be an easy one and the question is whether after the protracted struggle in Florida he will now look like a sore loser and so undermine any hopes he does have of achieving the final prize.