Gore, Powell Stay on Sidelines

As the race for the Democratic nomination enters what the party hopes will be its homestretch, Al Gore is still watching from the sidelines, and insiders say he's planning to stay there. The ex-VP is said to see himself brokering a deal if Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton end at an impasse. He values his environmental agenda too highly to risk burning bridges with either hopeful, a CNN analyst says.

Colin Powell not only isn't endorsing a GOP contender, he's eying hopefuls from both parties, the New York Times reports. He told CNN's Wolff Blitzer: "I’m going to be looking for the candidate that seems to me to be leading a party that is fully in sync with the candidate and a party that will also reflect America’s goodness and America’s vision.” (More Al Gore stories.)