Gore need only to whistle and he will find Hollywood celebrities falling all over themselves in an effort to help him raise funds.

Gore’s own relationships with Democratic donors run deep and long standing. With environmentalists making up a large segment of Democratic Party money, Gore would quickly rise to the top of the fund raising list.

Does he have enough time to organize in the early primary states?

Gore’s late entry and national celebrity gives him an ability to avoid the micro-primary and caucus in Iowa and New Hampshire.

He can go focus on the big states of Michigan and Florida and come out ahead.

His national positioning and newly enhanced celebrity status will give him traction to overwhelm the organizational efforts of the other campaigns in these large states.

And Gore has one other major asset: it is very difficult for Bill Clinton to attack him.

Having chosen Gore as his Vice President, plucking him from the ranks of defeated presidential candidates (Gore ran and lost to Dukakis for the Democratic nod in 1988) , how can he say that he is not qualified to be president?

Having praised Gore lavishly throughout the 1990s, he will have great difficulty now persuading voters that his former running mate is not worthy of election.

Will Al run?

There are good reasons for him to stay out. He has been catapulted to international celebrity status, putting him on a level with Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa, Vaclav Havel, and the Dali Lama.

So why should Al and Tipper once again go through the muddy trenches of American politics?

Gore knows he has a historic factoid on his resume, having won the the U.S. popular vote in 2000. Why risk it by perhaps losing a race for the nomination?

Gore has made clear he is motivated by substantive goals for the country and the world.

If he really does care about global climate change and wants to lead the world in stopping it – I believe he is sincere in this pursuit – what better way to make this happen then becoming president of the United States.

I have no doubt that Al Gore would be a very strong candidate and could defeat Hillary for the Democratic nomination.

At this point, Gore may be tempted to make the race. In his view, he wants to save the world. That’s a serious motivator.