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Thursday November 2 3:59 PM ET
Gore, Bush Criticize Each Other on Campaign Trail Gore, Bush Criticize Each Other on Campaign Trail

Reuters Photo
Reuters Photo

Audio/Video
Campaign 2000 Heats Up as Bush, Gore Stump Hard for Votes
(WWL, New Orleans)
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By Alan Elsner, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) on Thursday questioned George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s readiness to lead the nation, as public opinion polls showed the Republican nominee narrowly ahead in the presidential race and time running out.

But Bush portrayed himself on Thursday as the best equipped to reform Social Security and Medicare and Gore as just ``a hop, skip and a jump'' away from nationalizing the U.S. health-care system.

With five days of campaigning left before the election on Tuesday, the latest polls showed the Texas governor with a lead varying from three to five percentage points. The Reuters/MSNBC daily tracking poll had Bush leading Gore 45-42 percent, within the margin of error.

Green Party candidate Ralph Nader (news - web sites) continued to poll 5 percent. But some surveys have suggested as many as half his supporters could change their minds if it looks like Gore is losing to Bush.

But Gore drew encouragement from separate polls in nine battleground states that showed the vice president building a lead in some of the most crucial battlegrounds in next Tuesday's election, including Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The daily Reuters Electoral College survey had Bush with 217 votes, Gore with 215 and 106 too close to call. A candidate needs 270 votes to win the presidency.

The Gore campaign unleashed a fresh television advertisement criticizing Bush's stands on the environment, health care, Social Security and tax cuts while bluntly casting doubt on his fitness to serve as president.

Saying Texas ranks 50th in family health care and last in air quality, the advertisement appears designed to exploit lingering questions among some voters about Bush's experience and ability.

``Squanders Surplus''

``Bush promises the same $1 trillion from Social Security to two different groups. He squanders the surplus on a tax cut for those making over $300,000,'' the advertisement says. ``Is he ready to lead America?''

The vice president's schedule took him to Chicago and Scranton, Pennsylvania, before heading to New Mexico in a bid to spur Hispanic support.

He drew tens of thousands of people to a rally in Chicago where Gore launched yet another attack on Bush.

``My opponent likes to say we were a lot better off eight years ago than we are today,'' Gore said, prompting boos from the racially mixed crowd, which included civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and many union workers. ``That was my reaction.''

Reuters Photo
Reuters Photo

Bush was working his way through Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin, promoting his $198 billion plan to reform the Medicare health insurance system for seniors and denouncing Gore for what he has called broken promises and failed leadership.

``This is a man who wants the federal government to be making health care decisions on behalf of the American people,'' Bush said in St. Charles, Missouri.

``No folks, he's for a hop, skip and a jump to nationalize health care,'' he declared. ``He says 'You ain't seen nothing yet''', and how right he is. We haven't seen anything yet.''

The crowd put at 7,000 by campaign officials responded with rhythmic chants of ``You ain't seen nothing yet,'' and ``No more Gore.''

Bush crossed paths in St. Louis with Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news - web sites), as their campaign planes parked next to one another. Lieberman's motorcade was just pulling up to his plane while the Bush entourage was departing. Bush was seen giving the Lieberman entourage a thumbs up as his motorcade passed by.

Lieberman accused the Texas governor of doing the ``Texas two-step'' regarding distribution of $1 trillion in Social Security money.

``It may be a good dance, but not with people's retirement funds,'' Lieberman told several hundred supporters.

``They say Gore and Lieberman are going to push seniors to go for prescription drugs into a government-run HMO (health maintenance organization),'' Lieberman said. ``There's another name for a government run HMO. It's called Medicare, it's a successful trusted program.''

Republican vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney (news - web sites) was in Gore's home state of Tennessee, which is leaning toward Bush. He told an audience in the congressional district that Gore once represented that the vice president's struggles were emblematic of his entire campaign.

``I found it passing strange he's having to work that hard in his home state,'' Cheney said sardonically.

Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans campaigned furiously for control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Democrats need to pick up seven seats in the House and five in the Senate to regain control. Several experts said that was a longshot but still possible.

The half-forgotten man of the 2000 campaign, President Clinton (news - web sites), was planning to resurface on Thursday in California to campaign for Gore and key congressional candidates.

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Earlier Stories
Gore Ad Questions Whether Bush Ready to Lead (November 2)
Gore, Bush Attack Each Other's Base (November 1)
Bush Hits Gore in Ad, Saying He 'Bends Truth' (October 31)
Bush And Gore Battle for West with One Week to Go (October 31)
Bush Accuses Gore of Cynicism, Gore Touts Economy (October 30)
Bush Seeks to Gain Ground in California (October 30)

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