WASHINGTON - In a precursor of his possible return to the political spotlight, Democrat Al Gore plans to announce the formation of a new political action committee this week, a former aide said on Wednesday.

Gore, who lost his presidential bid to Republican George W. Bush in 2000, will use the "Leadership '02" committee to fund his campaign efforts for Democratic congressional candidates this year, said Donna Brazile, who managed Gore's campaign last year.

"He continues to receive many requests from around the country," Brazile said. "There is no question that Al Gore is going to help the Democratic Party in 2002, and this is the vehicle for raising money for travel and campaigning."

She said the papers forming the committee were filed late last year but Gore will officially announce its formation and staff on Thursday.

Brazile said it was premature to speculate on whether the move signaled Gore's plunge into the political battle for the 2004 Democratic nomination. That decision will wait until after the 2002 congressional elections, she said.

Gore, who lost a bitter race to Bush last year after a brutal five-week post-election recount battle in Florida, has largely stayed out of the public eye since the campaign ended, taking some teaching and consulting jobs and giving occasional speeches.

Last year he visited Iowa and New Hampshire, the first battleground states in the 2004 race.

Gore is part of a large potential field of Democratic candidates in 2004, including Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt and Gore's own running mate in 2000, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

Many of the potential candidates for the Democratic nomination already have formed political action committees, which permit them to raise money for congressional campaign travel and to give to Democratic candidates in the November elections. Nampa-Reuters