Michael Whouley, a longtime Gore aide and key adviser, said the candidate is doing what comes natural.

CNN: He also shows more relaxed attitude in several NH stops

Senior advisers dispatched ground-game gurus such as Michael Whouley and Ace Smith on missions to unexpectedly threatened or newly critical states -- only to discover grass-roots, Web-driven Obama efforts firmly established.

CNN: Analysis: Why Clinton's bid failed

Baldick ran "New Hampshire for Clinton-Gore" in 1996 and is a close friend of Boston-based political strategist Michael Whouley, who is taking the lead role in building a Gore 2000 campaign organization.

CNN: Gore Creates PAC For Midterm Elections