Gore campaign: Bush acceptance speech 'short on substance'

By Amy Paulson/CNN

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) -- The campaign of Vice President Al Gore served up a near point-by-point rebuttal to George W. Bush's acceptance speech Thursday, moments after the GOP presidential nominee stepped away from the podium.

"As advertised, Governor Bush's speech was short: Short on length, short on substance, and short on real ideas for working families," said a statement from the Gore camp entitled, "Gore 2000 Prime Time Rebuttal: George W. Bush -- Rhetoric vs. Reality."

In his strongly worded acceptance speech, the GOP nominee leveled a direct attack on the Clinton-Gore administration, saying: "They had their chance. They have not led. We will."

At times poking fun at his Democratic rival for the White House, Bush laid out his agenda for education, Medicare, tax cuts, Social Security and national defense, offering the Gore campaign the opportunity to both respond to his attacks -- both personal and political -- and restate the vice president's positions.

"The 'Texas two-step' was the last number played at the GOP's masquerade ball. But no matter the tune, no matter the words, the meaning is the same: George Bush attacked Al Gore tonight to draw attention away from his agenda of cutting Social Security benefits, lavishing most of the tax cuts on the few, raising Medicare premiums for seniors, failing to ensure access to health insurance to every child, and failing to expand pre-school or college opportunity for the next generation," the Gore organization wrote.

Instead of providing fresh ideas, it said, Bush "offered up only the tired-old Republican formula of personal attacks, vague phrases and rehashed platitudes."

"Finally, after three days of the most substance-less convention in history, there was some talk of the issues -- but even then, Governor Bush failed to tell the whole story about how his plans favor the few over America's working families," Gore's people said.