Many say his lack of support for the Vietnam War led to his defeat, and some detractors of the younger Gore say his decision to enlist for the Vietnam War was a political move to help his father's ailing Senate campaign.

Since the younger Gore's hard-fought 1976 Congressional campaign and his meteoric rise up the House and Senate ladder, it seemed like the political ambitions of the elder Gore--the White House--would finally be culminated through the political legacy of his son.

But the elder Gore's political life was ended by his failure to remain in touch with the political currents of his home state.

While the political life of his son currently hinges on the Florida recount, the precedent of losing one's home state does not bode well for the Gore campaign.

Only two presidents have been elected without winning their own home state.

Eighty-four years ago, President Woodrow Wilson took the White House, but lost his home state of New Jersey.

And the other?

Mexican War proponent--and Tennessean--James K. Polk, whose former residence lies only 100 yards from the War Memorial Plaza, the center of Gore's aborted Tuesday night victory celebration. Now, Gore can only hope history smiles twice on Tennessee.