Sweet blog extra: Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize. Chatter increases about a 2008 bid. Should he run?

WASHINGTON–Former Vice President Al Gore won the Nobel Peace prize on Friday, touching off chatter about whether he will jump in the 2008 race.

The Dem presidential hopefus have been sending out statements of congratulations.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the Senate Democratic political operation, has already set out a fund-raising appeal pegged to Gore’s win (click below for pitch.) Sign a card to congratulate Al!

Former President Jimmy Carter, on NBC’s “Today Show” encouraged him to get back into politics.

BY DOUG MELLGREN Associated Press

OSLO, Norway—- Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and lay the foundations for counteracting it.

Schumer…

Dear Friend,

While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1980s, I remember a young, gutsy Congressman who criticized the Reagan administration for ignoring the effects of greenhouse gases. That member of Congress was Al Gore, and today his perseverance has been recognized across the globe.

When Al and I served together in the House, he was a humanitarian before he was a politician. He was a tireless advocate for the environment and an educator. And now Al Gore is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. It was announced hours ago in Norway that he shares the award with the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Al gave speech after speech on the climate crisis long before it was a trendy topic. When you think of an American with persistence – who has never lost sight of pursuing what’s right – think of our fellow Democrat Al Gore. Join me in congratulating him on well-deserved success.

Click here to congratulate Al Gore on his Nobel Peace Prize. Sign the DSCC’s card to Al today.

This is a proud day for all of us. An American citizen was given the highest honor for an issue of the greatest importance. Al Gore has never stopped working toward a solution for global warming, and now the world recognizes him for his tenacity and his activism.

Since our days in Congress, I have called Al Gore a principled fighter for the American people. He was a leader then and a Nobel Prize winner now.

We all say congratulations, Al. We couldn’t be prouder.

Sincerely,

Sen. Chuck Schumer

Click here to sign the DSCC’s congratulations card to Al Gore.

Ask friends and family to congratulate Al Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.