NASHUA, New Hampshire (CNN) -- After weeks of seeing their Republican counterparts in the debate spotlight, the two major Democratic presidential candidates appeared in their first joint forum in weeks Friday, exchanging sharp points on the government's role in the health care of citizens.

Bradley

The statements were direct and strident at times. "You canceled Medicaid," Vice President Al Gore said at one point about former Sen. Bill Bradley's proposal to overhaul the nation's health care system. Bradley responded that his proposal to replace Medicaid with government subsidies for health insurance would be vastly preferable to the people who use Medicaid.

"From the vantage point of Washington, Medicaid looks pretty good," Bradley said. "But if you get out in the country and you see how it's being -- how it's applied, you find that it's not working."

Gore and Bradley engaged each other at Nashua's Daniel Webster College in the first high-profile Democratic candidate forum since the six Republican contenders assembled in Manchester, New Hampshire, Phoenix and Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this month for their own series of candidate forums.

The event, sponsored by ABC News, was taped early Friday night and aired a few hours later on the network's "Nightline" program. It had the fewest rules of any of the debates and candidate forums so far in the primary season. Moderator Ted Koppel told the pair that the only ground rule was that they remain seated on their stools.

After not participating in an event together since late October, the two are in the midst of two candidate forums in three days. Bradley and Gore also will appear Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Gore has made much in recent weeks out of Bradley's proposals to create a grand national health coverage plan, saying it was too expensive and unwieldy. Friday, he accused Bradley of shortchanging Medicare, and Bradley shot back in campaign debate that the vice president's own health insurance plan would mean some Americans would go without coverage.

"Who would you leave out?" Bradley said. "The answer is simple. I won't leave anybody out," Gore responded.

Gore has said Bradley's costly prescription for universal health care would mean not enough money would be left over for Medicare, and the issue has emerged as a flash point in their increasingly contentious battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Gore remains the front-runner nationally in the race, as judged in the polls. But statewide surveys show Bradley even or slightly ahead in New Hampshire, where the first primary ballots will be cast on February. 1, 2000, and he is hoping to ambush the vice president and use that as a springboard to later triumphs.

The opening question produced agreement between the two rivals that long-ago use of marijuana should not disqualify anyone from serving in the White House and that every candidate must decide how much scrutiny of their past to permit.

"I've admitted that I have smoked marijuana, as the vice president has," Bradley said.

Gore said he had "been open about it," and said he would let the Republican front-runner, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, "decide for himself how to respond."

Bush has said he hasn't used illegal drugs in the past 25 years but has declined to address possible earlier use.

Nearly an hour later, Bradley drew the line at discussing his religious faith. "In my own case I've decided my personal faith is private and I will not discuss it in public," he said.

Gore said he favors separation of church and state, and issued a declaration of support for everyone's views on the subject -- including, he said, atheists.

A question on gun control produced some restrained jabbing.

"I'm the only candidate in this race who has called for mandatory licensing and registration of all handguns in this country," said Bradley, who added he also wants to move gun dealers out of residential neighborhoods.

Gore stressed that he, too, favors gun control.

The congenial tone first dimmed when Gore, pointing out that he sets aside a chunk of the budget surplus for Medicare, asked Bradley what he would do to strengthen the program for Baby Boomers.

The two men interrupted one another numerous times in the span of a few intense moments, and at one point, Bradley turned to Koppel and said: "See, you made a mistake when you said we should ask each other questions."

A former Senate colleague of both Democratic candidates, Democrat Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, provided the vice president with a boost Friday morning when he threw his support behind Gore.

Lautenberg's formal endorsement was delivered via a written statement Friday, some months after he had first voiced his preference for Gore's candidacy.

Lautenberg and Bradley spent a significant amount of time representing New Jersey together in the U.S. Senate. A Gore aide described Lautenberg's announced preference Friday as "a stick in the eye" for Bradley.

Bradley's plans for the day included three radio interviews in New Hampshire and Boston -- only 50 miles from Nashua.

"You can't take an elbow without returning an elbow, and that's what's going to happen," Bradley said before the debate. Nonetheless, he added he would not engage combative tactics just to score some quick debate points.

"The fact of the matter is that every day there's an attack, an attack, an attack," Bradley said Friday on Nashua radio station WSMN. "Well, if all I did was respond to the attacks, then what was I going to do to get my message out?"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Friday, December 17, 1999

• Gore, Bradley exchange words on health care
• Clinton's impeachment: One year later, a defining moment fades from the national consciousness
• Bush brushes off questions about his intelligence on CNN's "Larry King Live"
• VIDEO: Religious leaders analyze Bush's proclamation of faith
• Bush: Hoping to clinch GOP nomination by March
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• McCain defends campaign finance proposal
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• Alexander writes off campaign debt with personal funds
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• Distinctions between Bush, Gore followers easily seen at dueling fund-raisers
• Giuliani maintains slight poll lead, but some don't like
• Hillary and Rosie talk cookies, not politics
• Hatch outlines plans for short-, long-term tax changes
• Forbes attacks Clinton-Gore health care plan as 'Soviet-style'
• Lawyer: Gingrich, wife reach confidential settlement in divorce

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