Presidential Assessments from Gore Allies Still "Dim"

What with the local efforts to get Al Gore on the New York ballot, that full-page ad in the New York Times, his improved standing in the candidate futures market and news that he's cancelling a California meetings to travel abroad for an "exciting and urgent mission" a day before the Nobel Prize announcements, the reemergence of the Al Gore's presidential speculation has become sort of un-ignorable.

At least, that is, until you actually talk to people close to Gore.

Elaine Kamarck, a Harvard professor and former policy adviser to Gore, thinks little has changed. When I asked her earlier today what Gore's chances were of entering the race given the recent boomlet in coverage, she answered with one word: "Dim."

Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider told me that contrary to all the frenzied coverage, tomorrow will be a "normal business day."

And a former Gore adviser I spoke to on background also played the whole thing down, saying that the political environment "isn't welcoming" for a Gore candidacy.

Still, if Gore is named as a Nobel Prize winner tomorrow, expect more stories like this one, and this one, and this one.