Schwarzenegger and Gore

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Two big-name political figures are planning to take part in a presidential forum on energy policy and climate change in New Hampshire next month.

Former vice president Al Gore and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - both of whom have taken a lead on environmental issues - are attempting to organize the event, said Adam Mendelsohn, a Schwarzenegger spokesman.

The idea for the forum originated from conversations between Schwarzenegger, a Republican, and Gore, a Democrat, Mendelsohn said.

Schwarzenegger "has obviously been a Republican who's been very active on this," Mendelsohn said, referring to energy policy.

Details of the event - where and when it would take place - are still being hammered out, Mendelsohn said. It's unclear whether the Republican and Democratic candidates would all take part in one forum, or if the event would be split by party.

Schwarzenegger has invited all of the major Republican candidates, and has spoken with each, Mendelsohn said. Arizona Sen. John McCain mentioned the forum during a news conference in California yesterday, setting off speculation about the event.

A Gore representative couldn't be reached yesterday. Gore - who lost his 2000 bid for the presidency - would likely work with the Democratic candidates. Gore was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to raise awareness of climate change.

Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, backed a 2006 law to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and some other gases to 1990 levels by 2020. He has also joined two other Western governors - Republican Jon Huntsman of Utah and Democrat Brian Schweitzer of Montana - in a nationwide television campaign that calls on Congress to cap greenhouse gas pollution.

Environmental issues rate among the highest concerns for New Hampshire voters in many opinion polls. In a New York Times / CBS poll earlier this month, 10 percent of New Hampshire Democratic voters surveyed said that the environment and global warming will be the most important issue as they settle on a candidate. In Iowa, that figure was 6 percent.

By SARAH LIEBOWITZ

Monitor staff