The Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Treasurer Shannon O’Brien, has a long-standing relationship with Senator John Kerry, a 2004 presidential hopeful. O’Brien assisted Kerry in his 1996 Senate race against William Weld, chairing his signature effort and heading up Women for Kerry. So why is O’Brien turning to none other than Al Gore — one of Kerry’s most formidable rivals for the 2004 nomination — to campaign for her on the day President George Bush comes to town to stump for Mitt Romney?

Gore’s appearance is certain to make headlines both locally (including in New Hampshire, a key 2004 battleground) and nationally; it is, after all, the first time Gore and Bush will be engaged in political activity in the same place at the same time since the 2000 election. But given that Gore’s political prospects look dim, why give him a shot in the arm now?

" I think Shannon is pleased that Al Gore is coming up to campaign for her. They share a commitment to many of the same issues and will be talking about that when she visits, " says O’Brien spokesman Adrian Durban. Durban points out that O’Brien participated in two events with Kerry on Monday; one was the kind of veterans’ event at which the senator shines. " John Kerry continues to be a great leader in Massachusetts. "

State Democratic leaders privately downplay the Gore event. They say the big October 10 Democratic rally for O’Brien, headlined by still-popular former president Bill Clinton, is much more important. Besides, say insiders, Gore gets less out of the visit than it might seem: O’Brien’s people are getting him to come to the Commonwealth to support her, but if the time ever comes for O’Brien to decide between Kerry and Gore, it’s all but certain she’ll go with Kerry.