Bradley not helping Gore to campaign
By Bill Sammon
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Al Gore has failed to win an all-out endorsement from Bill
Bradley, who has not stumped or raised funds for the vice
president � or even met with him � since grudgingly agreeing to
help the Democratic victor two months ago.
The former New Jersey senator has refused to relinquish his
nearly 500 delegates and has refrained from urging the 3 million
Americans who cast votes for him to switch their allegiance to
Mr. Gore. There has been no public purging of the bad blood he
has harbored toward the vice president, whom he characterized
throughout the primaries as a lying, craven political opportunist
who cannot be trusted with the presidency.
The press has remained virtually silent on the lingering
bitterness between Mr. Gore and Mr. Bradley, although it has
made a major political story out of the ill will between John
McCain and George W. Bush. Now that the Arizona senator has
"enthusiastically" endorsed the Texas governor, Mr. Gore becomes
the only presidential candidate who has been unable to enlist the
full-throated support of his stronger-than-expected primary
challenger.
Bradley spokesman Eric Hauser said millions of Americans still
have an affinity for the former NBA star who threw a scare into
Mr. Gore in New Hampshire. "We surprised Gore and the Democratic
establishment, and showed that we could raise a lot of money and
have a great influence with a lot of disparate kinds of voters,"
Mr. Hauser said. "Bradley emerges from that stronger than when
he went in."
Mr. McCain's chief media strategist, Mike Murphy, agreed.
"Bradley still has enough national stature to create huge and
horrific problems for Gore," Mr. Murphy told The Washington
Times. "Bradley's important and is being ignored by Gore. And
if Bradley wanted to, he could make a lot of trouble. "I'm
shocked that there's not been more attention paid to Gore's
snubbing of Bradley," he added. "Gore murdered Bradley, with
bloody fingerprints, yet there's no penalty. Meanwhile, we all
watch the nuances of McCain-Bush. It's ridiculous."
Said Gore spokesman Doug Hattaway: "When Senator Bradley dropped
out of the race, he made it clear he was supporting Al Gore.
The campaigns have been holding discussions about the future."
Yet there has been no agreement on Mr. Bradley's role at the
Democratic National Convention this summer or what it will take
for him to release his delegates to the vice president.
Although he dropped out of the race, Mr. Bradley's name
continues to appear on state primary ballots and he continues to
amass both delegates and popular votes.
"We've been in contact with the Gore camp on routine things, but
there haven't been any decisions about delegates or the
convention or anything like that," Mr. Hauser said. "I suspect
it will be sooner rather than later that we come back out and �
consistent with what we said the day we dropped out � support
Gore and work on his behalf."
Asked whether Mr. Bradley is planning to meet with Mr. Gore,
Mr. Hauser said: "It's hard to say. You know, we're going to
figure out what we're going do with him, for him, and then the
pieces will fall into place."
Mr. Bradley, who dropped out of the race on March 9, the same
day Mr. McCain suspended his campaign, refused to use the word
"endorse" during a news conference in which he tepidly threw his
support behind Mr. Gore that day.
"Senator, you did not use the word 'endorse' when talking about
Al Gore," a reporter pointed out at the news conference. Are you
today endorsing him?"
"I am giving him my support for the nomination," Mr. Bradley
allowed. "I will work for him. And that is what I'm saying."
A reporter persisted: "Is there a difference in your mind between
support and �"
"It is your call," replied Mr. Bradley, growing irritated.
"I'm supporting him."
When Mr. Bradley was asked "What's your call?" he still refused
to use the word "endorsement."
"I'm not parsing words today," he said. "I'm saying very
clearly: I have called him; I said I would support him; I intend
to support him."
Yesterday, Mr. McCain was asked a similar question. "Senator,
why do you have difficulty using the word 'endorsement' when you
talk about your support for Governor Bush?" a reporter said.
"I endorse Governor Bush," Mr. McCain said before the reporter
could go on. "I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush.
I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush. I endorse
Governor Bush. I endorse Governor Bush." Mr. McCain laughed
good-naturedly during this exchange, as did Mr. Bush, who added:
"By the way, I enthusiastically accept."
Yet this affectionate banter did not impress the journalists,
many of whom said the men looked "uncomfortable" and read ominous
signals in Mr. McCain's "tone" and "body language."
The body language of Mr. Gore and Mr. Bradley during joint
appearances like their debate on NBC's "Meet the Press" betrayed
an almost visceral hostility between the two Democrats. Even
when Mr. Bradley quit the race, he continued to complain about
the vice president's "distortions and negativity."
"While I'm bowing out, I'm not releasing the delegates that are
on my side," Mr. Bradley said at the time. "They've been loyal
supporters and deserve to have their voices heard."
A Bush spokesman declined to comment on the lack of rapprochement
on the Democratic side, preferring instead to emphasize that the
Texas governor and Mr. McCain have united to defeat Mr. Gore.
A Democratic National Committee official downplayed the lack of
press coverage of the Gore-Bradley relationship in recent months,
pointing out that Mr. McCain has kept himself in the limelight
by staging a high-profile visit to Vietnam and holding meetings
with Mr. Gore and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.
Mr. Bradley, by contrast, has "laid low" since dropping out, Mr.
Hauser said. He took a vacation and then began considering what
to do, not only about Mr. Gore but also his own career.
"Unlike John McCain," Mr. Hauser said. "He doesn't have a job
right now."
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Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
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