By Arthur I. Cyr Scripps Howard News Service ``Environment Al" Gore is riding high, including growing global media prominence. The Nobel Peace Prize honoring his efforts follows two Oscars for his global warming documentary, `An Inconvenient Truth'. This environment of celebration is fueling political speculation. Gore has explicitly denied interest in running for president again, and that may be true. However, he has not absolutely ruled out a 2008 White House bid, and he has refrained from asking active boosters to shut up shop. Even if Gore no longer has that requisite intense White House hunger, he would be a fool to rule himself out. Political weather, like the real kind, can change very quickly. More big news on the global environmental front could dramatically shift the winds in his favor. If Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama suddenly sinks, or another contender suddenly surges, there could be a Gore opening. His now very serious substantive credentials would add weight to a presidential bid, and speculation about a presidential bid draws wide attention to his policy concerns, abroad as well as at home. In American politics since World War II, renominating a defeated presidential candidate has been unusual but not unprecedented. Republican Thomas Dewey was given the opportunity to lose to Harry Truman after earlier defeat by FDR, and Democrats ran their beloved Adlai Stevenson unsuccessfully twice against the incredibly popular Ike. At various levels, the best parallel with former Vice President Gore is probably another vice president who got another chance -- Richard Nixon. Like Gore, Nixon lost a controversially close race in 1960, waited out the next one, and in his case won the White House in 1968. Nixon provides instructive insights even if Gore does not run. Gore's environmental concerns, like Nixon's anti-communism, have made him a widely popular, easily identified political brand. Each man also has emphasized the global dimensions of his primary product. Just as FDR established the modern very powerful presidency, Nixon transformed the vice presidency from a relatively low visibility understudy's office to a much more influential and independent institution. Both President Roosevelt and Vice President Nixon were extremely aggressive and effective in using the media, print as well as electronic. Nixon's extensive overseas trips kept him in the public eye while establishing persuasive credentials for foreign policy expertise. His equally relentless domestic travels developed strong ties with the GOP grass roots while making news at the state and local levels. Al Gore may not have invented the Internet, but the vehicle is made to order for global environment concerns. Pervasive information flows symbolize the unavoidable influences of our physical surroundings. After impeachment and very humiliating resignation, Nixon turned to prolific production of books. As with the man, they often combine wooden style with superb policy content. Nixon's 1994 book 'Beyond Peace' argues that the most important U.S. Middle East enemy by far is Iran, and warns that preoccupation with Iraq could easily involve us in very serious trouble. Such policy skill, in and out of office, is encouraging current reconsideration of his standing in history. Gore, lacking such burdens, has tremendous opportunities to promote an important educational and policy message. In the age of pervasive information, the White House is less essential to this kind of campaign. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen distinguished professor at Carthage College and author of ``After the Cold War." He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com