doc_text: The Tennessee senator is the latest in a string of Democrats to bow out of the race.
  These include Sens. Bill Bradley of New Jersey and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, and Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri.
  Currently, the only announced candidate is former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas; Iowa's liberal Democratic senator, Tom Harkin, is likely to declare next month.
  Neither of these candidates, however, is considered very formidable, and either would be a prohibitive underdog in a general election against George Bush.
  Thus, the Gore announcement is likely to focus anew the spotlight on New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.
  The New York governor, who delights in causing press speculation about his intentions, says he has no plans to run but won't rule out changing his mind.
  As a candidate, Gov. Cuomo would have clear weaknesses -- in particular, his identification as a New York liberal, which wouldn't play well in much of the South, and his state's financial woes, which would make it tougher to capitalize on the economic issue nationally.
  But his commanding presence and intellect privately worry some top Bush strategists, and generally he's rated the Democrats' strongest candidate by political experts from both parties.
  "Cuomo is the only semi-heavyweight left in the Democratic field," said Douglas Bailey, a Republican strategist.
  The New York governor, he thinks, would have problems but still would be a substantial challenger: "It isn't as hard for the public to imagine a President Cuomo dealing with this week's crisis as it would be the others."
  Several other candidates may yet jump in.
  Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder is mulling a bid, although the nation's first black governor has lost some luster lately in a messy political and legal feud with Sen. Charles Robb (D., Va.).
  Two-time presidential candidate and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson hasn't said what he'll do yet, although several Jackson intimates believe he's more likely to skip 1992.
  In recent weeks former, California Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. has been making sounds about elevating his comeback hopes from a Senate race to a presidential quest.
  This brings only smiles from Republican strategists.
  Other than Gov. Cuomo, the most promising possible aspirant may be Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton.
  He has won considerable praise for his achievements during his 10 1/2 years as governor, and at 45 years of age is an attractive, forceful and telegenic campaigner.
  But he's untested in national politics and foreign policy.
  By contrast, Sen. Gore was tested politically when he ran a reasonably respectable race in the 1988 Democratic primaries.
  He also has foreign policy credentials aided by his support for the Persian Gulf war.
  Undoubtedly, personal considerations were a major factor in the Tennessee Democrat's decision.
  He noted that his eight-year-old son was critically injured in an automobile accident two years ago, and it's known that he worried that the time and distance of a presidential campaign would be very hard on his children.
  Other Gore advisers worried that it's going to be tough for anyone to defeat George Bush, and two consecutive losing quests might end the presidential hopes of the 43-year-old moderate Democrat.
  But Sen. Gore insisted if it weren't for the family factors, he would have run.
  "I honestly believe that next year could be a very tough one for President Bush," he said in an interview.
  "The economy is anemic at best, and the president has no program for economic recovery or health care or any domestic agenda at all.
  He is vulnerable to a well-run Democratic campaign."
  However, nobody yet has come up with the Democrat to lead such a campaign.
summary_text: Democratic presidential prospects dimmed further with the dropout of Sen. Al Gore for family reasons.
  The only currently announced candidate is former Senator Tsongas.
  Iowa's liberal Senator Harkin is likely to declare next month (September).
  The Gore action again turns speculation to Gov. Cuomo despite his clear weaknesses: identification as a northern liberal and his state's financial woes.
  Other than Cuomo, the most promising possible aspirant may be Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, a telegenic campaigner who has won praise for his accomplishment's as governor.
  Gore insisted that if not for family considerations he would run since he believes President Bush vulnerable.