We've been expecting Al Gore to sweep out of left field and announce a presidential candidacy ever since the primaries got underway, but so far no dice (though we give a high-five to Grist for their awesome April Fool's post -- we fell for it).

Anyway, the Nobel-winning ex-Veep says he's not interested in running for the presidency again, and not interested in government in general. We might get the next best thing, though: Barack Obama has emphatically stated that he wants to call on Gore to fill a cabinet-level post to help deal with climate change.

At a town hall meeting in Pennsylvania, a supporter asked Obama yesterday if he'd pursue Gore's involvement. The answer? "I would. Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He's somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I'm already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now."

While political strategists dismiss the possibility of Gore serving under Obama -- and it's unlikely that any president is going to create a cabinet-level Secretary of Climate Change position -- we wonder what would happen if Obama offered Gore the position of, say, Secretary of State. That might be a hard one to turn down, especially given the even larger platform it would give Gore to work internationally on climate change solutions.

Since leaving the Clinton White House, Gore has shed his formerly passionless, dry political persona for a surprisingly fiery career in advocacy and public education on global warming. We think it'd be pretty interesting if he brought that fire to a new administration -- and lit it under the butts of policymakers and lawmakers who are currently more interested in stonewalling and repaying their campaign debts.

Gore, however, has indicated no interest in rejoining government, and has lately masterminded a series of TV and internet spots that aim to increase public awareness of climate change.