The vice president and the Donald -- New York developer Donald Trump -- talked by telephone last weekend, and Gore asked for his endorsement, according to two officials familiar with the conversation.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is considering the request.

Gore's spokesman Chris Lehane confirmed that the pair talked, and said it was "a good conversation. We are not going to talk about the substance of what they discussed," he said.

Trump decided recently not to run for president as a third-party candidate.

Gore is said to want Trump's help in securing support from the Independence Party in New York.