Prime Time Gore fends off attacks By Yael Kohen Daily Staff Reporter SOMERSWORTH, N.H. - Tensions are heating up between the Democratic presidential candidates as Vice President Al Gore counterattacked former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley's remarks about Gore's policies on abortion and campaign finance reform at a rally yesterday. Last week, Gore defeated Bradley in the Iowa caucuses and is currently in the lead in New Hampshire causing Bradley to make a turn in his campaign to attack Gore on campaign finance reform and his pro-choice position. Gore counterattacked yesterday at a rally at the Hilltop Equestrian Center. In his own defense Gore attacked Bradley's stance on campaign finance reform. "This coming from a man whose own fundraising interests were strongly criticized, but now he stands here like me. He strongly favors campaign finance reform," Gore said. "Sen. Bradley is looking for a different kind of fight," Gore said, adding that the senator is looking to divide the Democratic party by picking apart two issues on which they both agree. "Sen. Bradley is making a false attack," Gore said, adding that "he knows that it is the republicans who want to criminalize abortion." "He cannot answer real questions from real people about the very real problems we need to be facing," Gore said. Gore said the real enemy is the Republicans. "We have manipulative attack after manipulative attack," Gore said. Gore defended his pro-choice position and support for campaigning finance reform proclaiming that he has fought for both. Gore's supporters spoke in his defense on Bradley's earlier attacks on Gore's abortion stance. "He stands for us on this issue," Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York) said, adding that it is the Republicans that want to take away the right to choose. Gore said he opposes Bradley's positions on education as a local issue, and his health care policy which includes a $150-a-month voucher plan and aid by private insurance companies. Gore's congressional support at yesterday's rally expressed similar frustration with Bradley's campaign tactics. "I am very dismayed at what I now see coming out of Senator Bradley's campaign operation," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said to the cheering crowd. After the rally, the tension carried into the crowds and among members of Congress as they stood around the Equestrian Center. Harkin and Bradley supporter, Sen. Bob Kerry (D-Nebraska), argued that being "holier than thou" has no place in politics as Gore supporters jeered at the senators supporting Bradley in the background. But Bradley supporter Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) continued to defend Bradley's attacks on the vice president. "It's not character assassination if what they are saying is true," he said. Bradley is trailing Gore by less than 10 points in New Hampshire according to a poll conducted by The Boston Globe and WBZ-TV. With the state's primary just two days away, Gore is making last minute efforts to campaign in the nation's first primary of the year. But ralliers, were more than enthusiastic when Gore spoke about his policy positions. "Fighter" was the term used most ardently to describe Gore by supporters such as Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) as a contender for the presidency. "He's a fighter. He's a fighter for our families and our future," Lowey said. Gore defended his education policies and the efforts he wants to make as president to improve education, by developing a universal preschool curriculum and advanced technology into the classrooms, increasing standards for teachers and making college accessible. "Al Gore is going to be our education president," Kennedy said. "He will be our health care president," Kennedy later added about his policy to provide universal coverage to all Americans. Gore is asking voters to get to the polls tomorrow. "I want to fight for you. I need you to fight for me," he said to the excited crowd who held their "Gore 2000" signs high up so he could see. !--HexWeb XT 2.2.0 --> manipulative attack," Gore said. Gore defended his pro-choice position and support for campaigning finance reform proclaiming that he has fought for both. Gore's supporters spoke in his defense on Bradley's earlier attacks on Gore's abortion stance. "He stands for us on this issue," Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York) said, adding that it is the Republicans that want to take away the right to choose. Gore said he opposes Bradley's positions on education as a local issue, and his health care policy which includes a $150-a-month voucher plan and aid by private insurance companies. Gore's congressional support at yesterday's rally expressed similar frustration with Bradley's campaign tactics. "I am very dismayed at what I now see coming out of Sen. Bradley's campaign operation," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said to the cheering crowd. After the rally, the tension carried into the crowds and among members of Congress as they stood around the Equestrian Center. Harkin and Bradley supporter, Sen. Bob Kerry (D-Neb,), argued that being "holier than thou" has no place in politics as Gore supporters jeered at the senators supporting Bradley in the background. But Bradley supporter Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) continued to defend Bradley's attacks on the vice president. "It's not character assassination if what they are saying is true," he said. Bradley is trailing Gore by less than 10 points in New Hampshire according to a poll conducted by The Boston Globe and WBZ-TV. With the state's primary just two days away, Gore is making last minute efforts to campaign in the nation's first primary of the year. But ralliers, were more than enthusiastic when Gore spoke about his policy positions. "Fighter" was the term used most ardently to describe Gore by supporters such as Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) as a contender for the presidency. "He's a fighter. He's a fighter for our families and our future," Lowey said. Gore defended his education policies and the efforts he wants to make as president to improve education, by developing a universal pre-school curriculum and advanced technology in the classrooms, increasing standards for teachers and making college accessible. "Al Gore is going to be our education president," Kennedy said. "He will be our health care president," Kennedy later added about his policy to provide universal coverage to all Americans. Gore is asking voters to get to the polls tomorrow. "I want to fight for you. I need you to fight for me," he said to the excited crowd who held their "Gore 2000" signs high. LOUIS BROWN/Daily Vice President Al Gore speaks as Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) looks on at the Hilltop Equestrian Center in Somersworth, N.H., during a campaign rally. Originally on page 1A in the 1-31-2000 issue of the Daily.