CONCORD, N.H.- On the eve of the first 2000 Presidential primary that may hold the fate of their campaigns, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley (D) and Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) made a final push for support among followers and undecided voters. Both candidates are trailing Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) and Vice President Al Gore (D) in national polls.
Bradley held a small rally in downtown Manchester.
Bradley's wife noted her husband's more aggressive rhetoric against Gore.
"His elbows have been showing a bit," Mrs. Bradley said to a cheering crowd, referring to Bradley's recent remarks that Gore has not told the truth while campaigning. "We all feel a lot better knowing that those elbows function."
A few hours later, McCain addressed a gathering of several hundred people at the town hall in Bedford, N.H.
McCain skipped attacks on his Republican competitors to use much of his speech to attack President Clinton and Gore's fundraising activities instead.
Clinton treats the Lincoln Bedroom "like a Motel 6 and he's the bell hop," he said.
McCain also made light of Gore, saying the vice president might not have known he was in a Buddhist monastery when he was fundraising because of drug use and because he is "not very smart."
Both McCain and Bradley focused on moral issues at their final rallies.
McCain emphasized his integrity and straight-forwardness.
"I will act on principle and I will always tell you the truth," he said.
At his rally, Bradley emphasized his integrity as well.
Bradley told the crowd that "politics as usual will no longer do."
The Bradley crowd roared in response to applause lines by Bradley's high profile friends.
"Here's a candidate with integrity," Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) said.
The McCain crowd responded as reverently to the appeal to principle.
McCain supporter Margaret Devlin said she has been a Democrat for 71 years but decided to support McCain in the election because of his character.
"I have tremendous trust in him," Devlin said.
Read More
Board of Visitors Finance Committee hears presentation on budget process
By Cecilia Mould | 2 minutes agoThe Committee will review and vote on the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year when the full Board reconvenes for its June meeting.
Police forcefully clear encampment near University Chapel, detain protesters
By Thomas Baxter and Finn Trainer | 2 days agoThe University declared the encampment an unlawful assembly at 2:44 p.m.
Student Council passes appointment bill, approves new CIOs at final meeting of semester
By Arshiya Pant | 3 days agoMendoza Gonzalez also said she will be meeting with Kenyon R. Bonner, vice president and chief student affairs officer, to discuss further strategies for the Student Council Endowment Fund.
