Gores' Eldest Daughter Karenna Separates from Husband of 12 Years

June 9, 2010— -- Al and Tipper Gore aren't the only ones in their family facing marital problems.

The couple's eldest daughter, Karenna Gore Schiff, 36, has separated from her husband of 12 years, Andrew Schiff, 44. The news, first reported by People Magazine, emerged a week after the former vice president announced he was separating from his wife of 40 years.

Karenna, the eldest of Gores' four children, married Schiff on July 12, 1997 and they have three young children.

A friend of the couple told People that the two "have been separated for a couple of months" and are seeking "marriage counseling." Another friend told the magazine the split was amicable and that the two are not divorced yet.

Al Gore's spokeswoman Kalee Kreider told ABC News that neither the Gores nor the Schiffs had any comment.

Karenna, a Harvard graduate, a lawyer and documentary filmmaker, has been active in the political scene and was front and center in supporting her father's 2000 presidential bid, charged with energizing young people to show up to the polls.

Tony Coelho, Gore's former campaign manager, told ABC News Karenna was very close to her father and took on a lot of responsibility.

"She was Al's closest adviser," said Coelho, who was surprised by the news of Karenna's separation. "He sought her advice directly."

Over the years, Karenna has helped raise money for the Democratic party, and in 2004 she became the first child of a presidential candidate to speak at a national convention.

There were even rumblings last summer that she was eyeing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, though that proved to be untrue.

In 2006, Karenna authored a biography of nine American women of the 20th century, called "Lighting The Way: Nine Women Who Changed Modern America."

She and Schiff, a physician, live in New York.