political stars and newcomers already are auditioning for the role of the party's 2004 White House nominee.

The big question is when will last year's nominee, Al Gore, clarify his plans about the presidential race. The betting is later this year.

Democrats around the country say Gore would be a formidable candidate, probably the party's front-runner, if he decides to run. But they acknowledge his unsuccessful 2000 presidential race left some lingering questions.

"There are people who think if he wants the nomination, he should have it,'' said Barbara Flynn Currie, House majority leader in Illinois. "There are others who think he blew it.'' Gore won the popular vote by half a million votes in 2000 and barely lost Florida -- and the election -- in the now-famous recount. Some Democrats feel Gore earned the right to a rematch; others say he let an election slip away that he should have won because of the strong economy and popular Democratic issues. "He'll be considered a frontrunner just because of his experience and fund raising and people thinking he was cheated out of the election,'' said Ark Monroe III, a Little Rock, Arkansas, lawyer, who was a fund-raiser for Gore.

The list of people lining up to provide an alternative to Gore is growing steadily, though few will admit publicly they're seriously interested in running.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut are names that come up frequently in discussions with Democrats. Lieberman is out testing the waters and raising money, but has made it clear he would base his own plans on Gore's decision whether or not to run.

"What we're seeing is everybody who wants to increase their profile and visibility doing so,'' said nonpartisan political analyst Stuart Rothenberg.

"They can't just wait for a signal from Gore.'' Candidates face the tough challenge of raising their profile enough to be noticed, Rothenberg said, without raising too many expectations. The former vice president is splitting his time these days between his home in Arlington, Virginia, and teaching assignments at Columbia University and two Tennessee universities, Fiske and Middle Tennessee State, in which he is emphasising families and community building. Gore also is working on a book with wife Tipper.

Gore also has been thanking his supporters and contributors with calls and letters, periodically holding appreciation dinners.

Many Democrats say they felt slighted at the end of the campaign, when Gore threw a single "end of the recount'' party for celebrity friends and select aides, then disappeared to recuperate from the grueling campaign.

Some question whether his virtual disappearance from the political scene could hurt his chances.