The Gore campaignOut of Portugal, Questions for Coelho
By Michael Duffy/Washingon
October 4, 1999
Web posted at: 12:29 p.m. EDT (1629 GMT)
Vice President AL GORE was trying to make a fresh start last
week when he fired his pollster and began transplanting his
struggling campaign from Washington to Nashville, Tenn. But on
Saturday, Gore's operation was rattled again, this time by
charges from the U.S. government.
The State Department Inspector General found that Gore's
campaign chairman, TONY COELHO, may have mishandled federal
funds while serving overseas last year as the commissioner
general of the U.S. pavilion at a Portuguese exposition. The
I.G. found that Coelho approved "questionable payments" to a New
York-based consultant and preferred a chauffeured limo to other
forms of transport. Coelho, who has been Gore's campaign manager
since May, resigned from Congress in 1989 rather than face an
inquiry into a questionable business deal. Gore officials had no
comment on the I.G.'s findings, which were first reported by the
A.P.
--By Michael Duffy/Washingon
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Cover Date: October 11, 1999
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