USA: PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS JOHN MCCAIN AND BILL BRADLEY CAMPAIGN FOR ONE LAST DAY BEFORE 'SUPER TUESDAY'

Record ID: 841660

  • Title: USA: PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS JOHN MCCAIN AND BILL BRADLEY CAMPAIGN FOR ONE LAST DAY BEFORE 'SUPER TUESDAY'
  • Date: 6th March 2000
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLLSTER ALEXANDER ZOGBY SAYING," On the Democratic side it looks like a complete and total Al Gore victory on March 7th. Massachusetts is possibly about 10 points for Gore but other than that there doesn't look to be any place at least for now, where Bradley even has a ghost of a chance.
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5596WED8AYZLRW8UNV4FTQ6BZ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: With one day of campaigning before "Super Tuesday,"
    presidential hopefuls in the United States made a last pitch for voters amid speculation over the probable demise of the underdog candidates in both the Republican and Democratic Parties.
    Republican John McCain and Democrat Bill Bradley had hoped to knock the establishment, but pollsters predict their campaigns might be coming to an end.
    Campaigning in New York City on Monday (March 6), Vice President Al Gore behaved as if the Democratic nomination was settled and the general election was about to begin.
    Gore continuously attacked the Republican candidates on their health-care policies throughout the day.
    "...I disagree with him (McCain) and Governor Bush in their opposition to a healthcare patient's bill of rights"
    said Gore.
    Campaigning at a Jewish Conference the Vice President reaffirmed to the crowd that he was a friend of Israel.He said Israel's security would be a priority in his foreign policy platform.
    "We must therefore even in the midst of partisan combat, keep our eyes on the larger goal of building a United States of America for our future that is worthy of our traditions and values.And one of those traditions, embodying a deeply felt value, is support for -- and loyalty to our friends.Israel is our friend, and I support that relationship uncompromisingly,"
    Gore told the audience.
    Polls showed Gore heading for victory in all 16 Democratic primaries and caucuses, which would force his challenger, former Sen.Bill Bradley, out of the race.
    "On the Democratic side it looks like a complete and total Al Gore victory on March 7th.Massachusetts is possibly about 10 points for Gore but other than that there doesn't look to be any place at least for now, where Bradley even has a ghost of a chance.Including New York, where it has opened up into a 25 point plus Gore lead and Ohio which is almost 6 to 1, 5 to 1, for Gore.So there won't be much suspense on super Tuesday on the Democratic side." said pollster John Zogby.
    Former Senator Bill Bradley, whose challenge has petered out in the past month, said he would have to win at least some states on Tuesday (March 7) to stay in the race.In campaigning appearances on Monday Bradley still pressed on the issues, repeating several times that he believed at his chances in tomorrow's primaries.
    George W.Bush, the son of former President George Bush, has a harder task against Arizona Sen.John McCain in the 13 Republican contests.McCain could win five New England states, although polls show Bush with solid leads in Georgia, Maryland, Ohio and Missouri.McCain is leading in Massachusetts but polls show Bush had a narrow lead in Connecticut.
    "McCain could be very competitive or if this becomes almost a sweep for George W.Bush, then John McCain's campaign is virtually over," said Pollster John Zogby.
    George W.Bush, whose presidential campaign has been haunted by his visit to a college espousing anti-Catholic views, stood on stage at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and condemned all forms of religious bigotry.
    "We don't believe in tolerance in spite of our faith," Bush said."We believe in tolerance because of our faith.And it leads us to condemn all forms of religious bigotry."
    Bush was escorted around the museum by prominent Jewish leaders.They stopped in front of a wall with photographs and inscriptions illustrating the power of words for good and evil.
    Senator John McCain, campaigning in California, said he would confound the pollsters repeating that he believes there was going to be a lot of surprises tomorrow and that the environment was too volatile to predict.
    At the University of California Los Angeles campus rally, McCain asked his supporters to join him in what he has called his "great crusade".
    McCain focused on 2.5 million (USD) in advertising produced by Sam Wyly, a wealthy Texan supporter of Bush, which McCain said was violating the "spirit of the law" preventing individual contributors from donating more than $1,000 to a candidates.
    Students were equally divided on how they were going to vote although one student denounced all the candidates.
    "McCain, Bradley, Gore, Bush - they're all the same.These are all candidates that are completely owned by the corporations of the world.And there's no way I would ever cast my vote for one of these people."
    But, as polls stand now, Bush and Gore seem to be heading for the finish line, hoping to wrap up the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations in Tuesday's primary elections.
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