Inside Politics Weekend: Gore’s solar houseboat

Ahoy there

For everyone tooling around in their Donzis today, this one’s for you.

Al Gore has a new houseboat called “Bio-Solar One,” and yes it has solar panels and maybe will use ethanol, according to WKRN, an ABC affiliate in Nashville.

The craft is docked at a marina on Center Hill Lake, about 70 miles east of Nashville, and is described by the manufacturer as the “Prius” of houseboats, according to correspondent Jerry Barlar, who managed to scramble aboard for an inspection before the former vice president took her out for a spin.

The boat is rumored to be so “fuel efficient,” according to a Gore spokeswoman, that it only needs a fill-up once a year. But Mr. Barlar contended there is already a mystery.

“Employees here don’t know where he’ll get the ethanol. There are only gas pumps here,” he said.

Aloha Hillary

Anyone pining to know who Sen. Barack Obama will choose for his running mate most likely must wait until the Illinois Democrat returns from his Hawaiian vacation, which started Friday.

His closest confidants told the Financial Times that the mystery veep hopeful is still under wraps.

“It is unlikely a running mate will be selected before the candidate returns from a week’s holiday in Hawaii,” the newspaper notes. “That leaves about 10 days until the start of the Democratic party convention in Denver.”

And no one is murmuring, in the meantime.

“In addition to Michelle Obama, the candidate’s inner circle consists of just three people: David Axelrod, his senior strategist, David Plouffe, his campaign manager, and Robert Gibbs, a senior adviser. All three are intensely loyal and discreet Obama professionals.”

The Times also posited the notion that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton “has made a comeback” - and could be near the top of the heap.

Asleep at the wheel

The presidential race is nearly asleep, according to CNN political analyst Gloria Borger

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