It looks like we will have to endure 7 more months of speculation until Al enters the race:

It’s too much to say that Al Gore has decided to run for President in 2008.

But it does seem that he wants to preserve the option.

Certainly, the recent buzz about a possible Gore campaign in 2008 doesn’t seem to be spontaneously generated. According to one influential Democratic insider, close associates of the former Vice President have communicated to him and other prominent fund-raisers who are uncommitted to the other ’08 candidates that Mr. Gore will consider entering the race if an opening presents itself in September.

Ask Mr. Gore’s spokesperson about the rumors, and the response is the same sort of mushy non-denial that Mr. Gore himself has become expert at serving up. “Obviously,” said Kalee Kreider, “he appreciates the sentiment from folks who are interested in this, but really, his efforts are focused on global warming.”

But let’s just look at the merits of the hypothetical Gore candidacy that the former Vice President’s supporters seem to be proposing.

The timing would certainly make sense, since Mr. Gore, unlike other candidates who have made late entries into recent Presidential campaigns, can afford to wait. He already has enviable name recognition, a reliable financial network and a groundswell of loyalty among the Democratic grassroots activists who won’t forget that he stood against the Iraq War from the beginning, back when the Bush G.O.P. was so successfully making support for an invasion a litmus test of patriotism.

And a dramatic, last-minute entrance, after months of prodding and begging from grassroots activists, would stamp any Gore ’08 effort as something more than just another campaign by another politician.

With his Oscar and Nobel Prize nominations, upcoming Congressional testimony on global warming, and an international day of concerts to promote climate-change awareness that he’s organizing for early July, Mr. Gore figures to receive more prominent news coverage in the months ahead than many of the announced candidates.

By delaying, Mr. Gore will also be able to steer clear of any early skirmishes between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, instead allowing the three front-runners to drive each other’s negatives up which will only feed the rank-and-file hankering for Mr. Gore to play the white knight.

I believe it is nearly certain that Gore will enter the race. There’s simply too much smoke here. Speaking as a Republican, I have to say this prospect excites me to no end…