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Al Gore takes centre stage
04/07/2007 14:01 - (SA)
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| Former US Vice President Al Gore speaks about the upcoming Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium, London. (Ian Nicholson, AP)
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Los Angeles - Al Gore's image as a rock-star eco-warrior gets another high-voltage jolt of celebrity endorsement on Saturday when the music world gathers to raise awareness for global warming at Live Earth.
But despite a growing clamour for the beaten 2000 presidential election candidate to enter next year's race for the White House, the chances of Gore running for office again remain remote, analysts say.
Breathlessly described by admirers as "the coolest ex-US vice-president ever", Gore has consistently stated he has no interest in launching a 2008 election bid, while stopping short of unequivocally ruling himself out.
"I haven't ruled it out, but I don't think it's likely to happen," Gore said in a recent interview with Time Magazine.
Yet Gore's prominent involvement in events like Live Earth - which will see over 150 stars perform in eight concerts around the world to urge governments to set climate change targets - will inevitably breathe new life into calls for a 2008 White House bid.
However, Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political scientist at the University of Southern California, said she doubted Gore would enter the running.
"I don't think at this point he's thinking about it," Jeffe said.
Crusading environmental campaigner
"He's having so much fun where he is," she added, referring to Gore's new-found status as crusading environmental campaigner, as evidenced in his involvement with the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth.
"His image problems have been waylaid by An Inconvenient Truth," Jeffe said.
"What you see in the film is what you get when you meet him - an Al Gore who is charming, witty and does have some personality."
Bruce Buchanan, a professor of government at the University of Texas, said the challenge for a Gore presidential campaign would be maintaining his new image. "He feels freer to speak his mind now, no question," Buchanan said. "If he became a candidate I think he'd be wise to stay in that vein.
"He was over-managed and over-cautious before and never seemed entirely comfortable in his own skin. That's the difference between the Al Gore you see today and Al Gore the 2000 presidential candidate."
The question of Gore's possible candidacy would remain open as long as he failed to decisively close the door on an election bid, analysts said.
"I think the possibility does remain," Buchanan said.
Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
"He's not made a definitive statement. However he's said he isn't really that interested and I believe that.
"On the other hand he won't pull out completely and there is a sentiment in the party which is concerned about the electability of the two leading candidates."
The chances of Gore running may hinge on the fortunes of the two Democratic front-runners, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
"I think the one thing that would move him to consider is if Hillary falters," said Jeffe. "If she begins to implode he might think about it."
Winning the Nobel Peace Prize - Gore is among 181 nominees for the prestigious honour which is announced in October - may also persuade him to enter the running, Jeffe said.
"He can probably afford to delay any decision until after the Nobel is announced," she said.
"If it doesn't, it doesn't happen. But there may be some cachet in a Nobel Peace Prize winner running for president."
Jeffe said becoming US president would also put Gore in the perfect position to positively influence the issue closest to his heart - climate change.
"I've never really bought this suggestion that Mr Gore can be more effective for the environment from outside the political sphere," Jeffe told AFP.
"If you want to impact the environment or tackle global warming, there is no better place from which to do it than the Oval office."
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