Among those saying they are happy with the economy, Al Gore now leads Mr Bush by a two-to-one margin, whereas in August 1999, when contentment was just as high, Mr Gore was only level-pegging with Mr Bush among this group.

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The polls also raise questions about the level of enthusiasm among partisan Democrats for Gore.

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Many gentry liberals, starting with Al Gore, have long disdained suburban lifestyles that allow most Americans an enviable level of privacy, safety and comfort.

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Gore's favorable rating, however, has slowly eroded from 57 percent in June to its current level, 51 percent.

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Gore and Hyatt courted Olbermann to leave his previous employer, MSNBC, with promises of "an unprecedented level of control and resources to build a new progressive network, " Olbermann's lawsuit said.

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