Al Gore has a plan.

What that is, only he knows.

But when he says he has “no plan to run again,” he knows very well that by not taking himself out of the 2008 race completely, he can remain in the Democratic field (if only in speculation) - and continue to enjoy the unparalleled media buzz and positive PR he’s receiving to advance his first priority: global warming.

From what we gather, most of Gore’s friends believe he will not run, that he has no desire to welcome back the scrutiny a top-tier candidate has to withstand (see Mrs. “1984,” the current frontrunner).

Assuming that’s true, Gore will not say he’s out because he’ll then lose some of the resources needed to fight global warming, maintain his role as climate change ambassador of Earth and respected elder of the Democratic Party.

Regardless of his intentions, Al Gore returned to Capitol Hill today, asking lawmakers to consider their place in history when rising to the challenge of fighting what he calls a “climate crisis.”

“I promise you a day will come when our children and grandchildren will look back and they will ask one of two questions. Either they will ask, ‘What in God’s name were they doing? Didn’t they see the evidence?’”

Or, he said, “They may look back and say ‘How did they find the uncommon moral courage to rise above politics and redeem the promise of American democracy?’”

According to ABC News, Gore suggested several proposals, including 90 percent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 — an aggressive move critics say could cripple the U.S. economy.

The Goracle also suggested that Congress raise fuel economy standards and enact a moratorium on any new coal-fired power plants that don’t include technology to capture greenhouse gas pollution and store it underground.

The former vice president’s work on global warming was the subject of last year’s documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth, which won an Academy Award.

Much of the science in the film is based on the work of thousands of peer-reviewed scientists who conclude that humans are warming the planet through the release of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

The vice president was the only witness, sitting at the witness table next to a cart full of boxes which held 516,000 letters from Americans concerned about global warming. Gore made good on a promise to deliver the climate change messages personally to members of Congress.

“I’m not here by myself,” said the man who held Congress’ first global warming meetings 20 years ago. “There are lots of Americans who feel as strongly as I do.”

What he did not do was enter the 2008 presidential election. However, for our purposes (and maybe his own), he’s in it until he’s not in it.

Yogi Berra-esque wisdom aside, here’s what’s still true of Gore:

• His image has been remade, for the better, many times over since 2000
• In the court of public opinion, he trumps the man he defeated, yet lost to, six and a half years ago, George W. Bush
• His popularity reflects a lack of enthusiasm over Hillary Clinton
• He would bring excitement and substance to the Democratic party (even more than Barack Obama already does)
• He could still wait several months and continue to test the waters before he announces his intentions

Think about it. Well, maybe it’s wishful thinking. But for now, we’ll still consider Al Gore in the race until he tells us otherwise.