Gore, the wife of Al Gore - vice president and democratic presidential candidate - said her husband "is the guy who's perfect to be the next president."
Gore met with about 10 students at the Corner's Espresso Royale coffeehouse, drank a hot café mocha and fielded questions about campaigning, affirmative action and the 2000 presidential election.
Responding to a question about the recent debate surrounding the use of race as a factor in the University's admissions process, she said she did not know all of the details but said she and her husband strongly support affirmative action.
She added that while she is campaigning, her husband's bid for the presidency is her main focus, but that her family must always find a balance between campaigning and family life.
"The pressures are enormous," Gore said. "You've got to balance, you've got to pace yourself. We all need to take time for ourselves."
She said she and her husband make their hectic schedules fit around their children's activities, calling it a matter of priorities.
"I can't tell you how many times I've fed the entire football team. I love it," she added, referring to Albert Jr., her son who is a high school football player.
Gore said she did not miss one of his football games last year.
Gore also discussed the importance of college-aged people in the 2000 election and said civic participation is a must.
"We've got to get voter participation back up," she said. "I see that as a challenge."
After her remarks with the group, Alex Theodoridis, program director for the Center for Governmental Studies, presented Gore with a "Politics is a Good Thing" T-shirt, a gift from the Center and Larry J. Sabato, government and foreign affairs professor.
Theordidis said the Center was contacted by Gore's office to assemble a group of student leaders.
University Democrats President Rhodes Ritenour said he was impressed with Gore.
"I liked Tipper Gore because she really does relate to the common man," Ritenour said. "I think she makes Laura Bush look like a two-dime shoe-shiner."
He said the 2000 election will come down to three issues - health care, the environment and technology.
"I think Al Gore's right on all three issues," he added. "People are going to see that Gore has the experience, both national and international, to lead the country into the next century."
Head Center Intern Dan Payne, a fourth-year College student, also said he was impressed by Tipper Gore, citing her openness to suggestions.
"She mentioned that we need to cut bureaucracy where it needs to be cut," said Payne, noting that this seems to be a move away from the traditional big government tendency of the Democratic Party.
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