In Barcelona's excellent diary, he/she points out that Gore must know that in order to effect the type of change necessary to save our country and the planet, he has to be our president. I don't think Gore is the type of person who would be content to just do his part from outside Washington. He knows that Hillary, if she were to become president, won't support the massive sea change in attitudes and priorities that needs to happen now in this country. But getting into the race is tricky business. I think he's savvyer and much better equipped now to handle the crap that was thrown at him during the 2000 election and since then, but I don't think he should spend his political capital and subject himself to the right-wing propaganda machine just yet. Instead, he should wait until Hillary gets the nomination (assuming she does) and run as an Independent. Of course this carries tremendous risks, but here's why I think it could succeed:
Hillary has been tacking right for years. She's even been tacking right during the primaries, traditionally a time to appeal to one's base (which is now the majority of America.) Her positions on Iraq, Iran and Israel are pretty much in line with the right and the neo-cons, and have you seen her campaign staff?. If she's this far right now, imagine how far she'll go should she win the nomination! She has taken the base for granted, assuming (correctly so, I think ) that we'll vote for her in the general election because the alternative would be unthinkable to most thinking people. During the general campaign, Hillary would play even more to the right in order to break away Republicans from their nominee. This will leave Democrats with a bad case of buyer's remorse. I'd bet many people who voted for Hillary in the primary would come to regret their decisions.
Now Gore, having stayed out of the primaries and continuing to push his issues, would have even more political capital to use in the general. He could walk into the race unblemished and generate a very high level of excitement. He'd be the instant solution to buyer's remorse and could raise a ton of cash instantly. And unlike Ralph Nader, Gore truly would be a welcome alternative to Republican voters, who can't stand their nominees even now, and certainly would have a hard time voting for Hillary. What's more, if he picked Michael Bloomberg, Republican-turned-Indepent, as his running mate he'd be able make further inroads among Republican and Independent voters.
Then consider his signature issue, the environment, which is perfectly suited to an Independent candidate. While it may be political, concern for global warming is shared by just about every American, except for a few Republican creatures in Congress. Given how low Congress's approval rating is, and how disappointed people are in the Democratic Congress members' unwillingness to stand up for the Constitution and our fourth amendment rights, I think Democratic and Republican voters alike would fall over themselves to get an infusion of fresh, untainted blood on the scene.
Of course there are some concerns associated with a third party in race, chief among them the possibility that Gore as an independent candidate would split the Democratic vote. But as Gore says, change happens in surprising, non-linear leaps, once a certain threshold has been reached. I believe that the public is edging ever closer to that threshold, and will continue to do so with increasing speed as Republicans continue to shred the Constitution and the Democratic leadership capitulates to them at most every turn. I think a large majority of Americans will be ready for an Independent President.