"I don't know that it changes anything to do with my feelings about global warming. I'm still a strong skeptic," said Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab. "Al Gore and the 'Hollyweird' are probably jumping up and down for joy right now, but I don't buy it. I still think it's a lot of political propaganda."

Noel, who serves on the Legislature's Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment committee, said, "Al Gore has got about as much credibility in Utah as Pee-wee Herman," a television and movie character.

Sen. Darin Peterson, R-Nephi, has also questioned whether humans have any impact on global warming. Peterson marveled that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to someone who thinks "the environment is more important than people."

Gore has said again in recent weeks he wouldn't jump into the 2008 presidential race, but that hasn't stopped widespread speculation that Friday's peace prize announcement might change his mind.

Jones and other Utah political observers, though, said they don't believe he'll run.

"I think he would be the top Democrat in Utah now if he were running for president," Jones said, which likely would matter only in the state's Feb. 5 presidential primary, since Utah is dominated by the GOP.

Jones, though, said that Gore won't want to hit the campaign and fund-raising trail again. Instead, Gore's endorsement will be sought after by the Democrats in the race and "will mean more than any other Democrat right now," Jones said.