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Gore: Bradley will be 'important part' of campaign after endorsement

July 13, 2000
Web posted at: 5:36 p.m. EDT (2136 GMT)

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (CNN) -- Vice President Al Gore won the long-awaited endorsement of former Democratic challenger Bill Bradley on Thursday and said Bradley would be an "important part" of his presidential bid.

Gore & Bradley
Former Sen. Bill Bradley endorsed Vice President Al Gore for president Thursday.  

Bradley spent 15 months running for president, withdrawing in March after failing to win a single primary. The former New Jersey senator and professional basketball player invoked legendary football coach Vince Lombardi in throwing his support behind Gore in an appearance in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

"Democratic voters spoke and selected Vice President Gore as our nominee. I'm here in Green Bay today because I believe what Vince Lombardi once said is true: Winning is a team sport," Bradley said.

"Our party is strongest when we're unified, when we speak with one voice, when we work to guarantee a Democratic Congress and a Democratic president," he said. "I will work to accomplish both, because I believe Democrats have a better chance of guiding America to a brighter future than do Republicans -- and it's not even close."

The endorsement follows a long silence from Bradley. The two men fought bitterly at times during the primary season: Though Bradley stated his support for Gore when he left the race, he stopped short of using the word "endorse" until Thursday.

Republicans wasted no time in reminding voters of that history, with the party's national committee releasing a list of previous Bradley attacks on the vice president. Bradley's reticence led to taunts from Republicans and fed rumors of lingering ill will for Gore.

Gore said Bradley "brought high purpose and high ideals to our contest for the nomination." He promised that Bradley "will be an important part of this campaign and an important part of America's future." In particular, Gore said he would work with Bradley on racial issues and campaign finance efforts, both centerpieces of Bradley's presidential campaign.

Bradley
Bradley ran for the presidency, but withdrew from the race in March.  

"No one has done more to put campaign finance reform at the top of our national agenda, and I look forward to working with Bill Bradley in the years ahead to break the special-interest stalemate in Washington once and for all," Gore said.

Gore's campaign chose Green Bay for the endorsement, Bradley spokeswoman Anita Dunn said last week.

"It's a battleground state for them," Dunn said. "Bradley went there two or three times for Clinton in 1996. There are a lot of Perot voters up there who Bradley could appeal to."

Gore is expected to face Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the likely Republican nominee, in the November election. Bradley said Gore was the best hope for leading the country through an ongoing technological revolution, expanding access to health care and creating a stronger society.

"Under his leadership, we will come closer to solving the problems I mentioned earlier, and under the leadership of George W. Bush, it is not even close," Bradley said.

Thursday's appearance could help Gore shore up his base among traditional Democratic voters. Many of the party's traditional liberal voters supported Bradley, and could turn to Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in November.

In addition to his formal statement of support, Bradley has also authorized one of his major fund-raisers to assist the Democratic National Committee in raising money for Gore this fall. The Gore camp has been seeking access to Bradley's donors, but the donors have been waiting for Bradley to announce his endorsement.

Bradley controls 412 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles next month. A Bradley strategist said he will release the delegates to vote for Gore's nomination after holding a final rally in the convention city with his campaign supporters.

 
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Former Sen. Bill Bradley endorses Vice President Al Gore for president.

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