Like an actor polished by constant interviews on a marathon movie junket, vice president turned Hollywood darling Al Gore has mastered the art of (not) answering the most obvious question: Is he running for president in 2008?
"I'm not trying to be coy or glib in any way," he says coyly during an interview this week in Beverly Hills. "I have no plans or intentions or expectations of running."
Really? Are you sure? You mean you'll never run again? Laurie David will become your adopted child if you do.
He laughs and goes with the thought.
"Well, when you put it that way, I haven't completely ruled out the possibility of thinking about it sometime in the future, but I don't expect to," he says, obviously spoofing all the answers he's given on the subject in recent weeks.
Oh, so you're saying maybe you'll think about maybe doing it? You haven't ruled it out?
"I have no desire to slam the door shut, nor any particular reason to make a Sherman-esque statement ["If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve"] 500 days before an election. It's pointless."
So, why decide now?
He laughs: "Why indeed?"
Clearly, the remaining Arctic \o7and\f7 Antarctic ice could shrink to fill a cocktail shaker before even the most skilled forensic psychologist (or screenwriter) figures out exactly how Gore is leaning on this matter.
This much is evident: The man who spends most of his life these days warning about dire events looming in humanity's future is, in fact, living in the moment politically.
"Al has made a very smart choice in not entering the fray and waiting to see what happens," says longtime Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman. "We haven't seen how things are going to play out with the current candidates.
"I honestly believe he hasn't made up his mind."
If Gore does enter the race, Bragman says, he'll have endless fundraising opportunities in Hollywood, no matter how far along in the electoral script he might make an entrance.
"They gave the guy an Oscar, after all," Bragman says, referring to the best documentary award given to "An Inconvenient Truth." "He's not only adored in Hollywood as a politician but also as a member of the community, as a filmmaker. He can marshal support from all the power players."
A man at ease
