While 60 percent of voters approve of the way Gore is handling his job as vice president, only 41 percent believe he is a strong leader, and 56 percent find him boring. Bush leads Gore by about 15 points in several hypothetical matchups. More than with Bush, Gore's problem is his job. Loosely defined, it is a soul-withering malady spawned by a job with virtually no constitutional duties except to exist in case the president dies or becomes incapacitated. The victim, meanwhile, is relegated to a spot perpetually in the boss's shadow.
Political miniaturization is an occupational hazard for all vice presidents, but it can be overcome.
The year before the 1988 election, Vice President George Bush was widely derided for having no identifiable impact on the Reagan administration and no clear principles aside from those of his boss. Yet after he won the GOP nomination decisively, Bush overcame the doubters and rode a strong economy into the Oval Office. It's not particularly worrisome for Vice President Gore. The amazing thing is how quickly the perception changes once a vice president gets the presidential nomination. Some analysts say the Bush comparison goes only so far, though.