'Ain't seen nothing yet'

As time winds down, campaigning heats up

By Yael Kohen

Daily Staff Reporter

WARREN - In the final days before Nov. 7th, Al Gore and George W. Bush are working hard to rally voters in Michigan, making extended visits to the state this weekend.

Bush made a campaign stop Friday in Farmington Hills, while Gore rallied voters with the help of Jon Bon Jovi yesterday.

"Michigan may well turn out to be the key state. Macomb County may well turn out to be the key county. You may very well turn out to be the key person in Macomb County in Michigan in the United States of America. I ask for your vote," Gore shouted into the cheering crowd.

"My pledge to you is you ain't seen nothing yet," Gore said.

Bush, campaigning in Farmington Hills two days earlier, had already offered a rebuttal to Gore's claim.

"My opponent says you ain't seen nothing yet. He's right," Bush said during a rally at Oakland Community College.

Gore campaigned across Michigan yesterday with his wife, running mate Joe Lieberman and Lieberman's wife Hadassah.

"George Bush is not ready to be president of the United States," Lieberman said citing the Texas governor's record on education and the environment.

After the rally at Macomb Community College in Warren, the two Democratic candidates split up to cover as much of the state as possible before heading to Wisconsin today.

NORMAN NG/Daily

Accompanied by Senate candidate Debbie Stabenow, Gore continued to East Lansing for another rally and later to Grand Rapids and Muskegon. In the meantime, Lieberman campaigned across Southeast Michigan, making stops in Pontiac, Flint and Saginaw.

Although heartthrob musician Bon Jovi tried to rock the crowd, ralliers cheered the loudest when Gore came to the stage.

"I get a rush from being here," said Students for Gore Chair Alicia Johnson, an LSA junior. "It really builds excitement."

Gore tried to point at the differences between himself and his opponent by giving a rundown on the differences between their policies on education, health care, a patients bill of rights, hate crime legislation, the Supreme Court and abortion.

Bush had a different take on American prosperity during the past eight years.

"I believe the reason our economy is so strong today is because of the Ronald Regan tax cuts of the '80s," Bush said.

The crowd went wild with chants of "No more Gore," and "We want Bush." The Republican candidate was accompanied by Sen. Spence Abraham, Michigan Gov. John Engler and U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg from Bloomfield Hills.

Bush emphasized his ability to lead the country in foreign and domestic affairs because of his integrity and moral strength, which he said must be restored the White House.

"The surplus is not the government's money, it's the people's money," Bush said.

Bush urged supporters not only to vote on Election Day but to help the campaign gather more support from friends, family and neighbors.

"Not only do I want your vote, I want your help," Bush said. "The team with the best grass-roots organization is going to win this campaign."

Members of the University's chapter of Students for Bush were present at the rally and expressed excitement about the work ahead in the next week. Julie Marcal, an LSA junior, said the group has been distributing literature about Bush.

There were so many supporters at the rally Friday night that many had to stand outside the complex and watch the teleprompter.

"It was a great show," said Students for Bush co-Chair Doug Tietz, an LSA sophomore. "It was really inspiring."

Texas Gov. George W. Bush waves to supporters at a rally Friday in Farmington Hills.