World Today

Gore Begins What's Expected to Be Prolonged Attack on Republican Rival, Gov. Bush

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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Vice President Al Gore may be borrowing a mantra from his boss -- It's the economy, stupid. In New York today, the likely Democratic nominee chose a subject chose to American's hearts, their money, to begin what's expected to be a prolonged attack on his Republican rival.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve was there.

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JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Al Gore has a new game: heavy on offense. He tore into his Republican opponent's economic plan, calling it "fiscal fiction."

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe that George W. Bush's entire economic agenda is built on a foundation of irresponsibility and risk.

MESERVE: Gore gave Clinton/Gore credit for the current prosperity, and said it would continue unabated under his economic blueprint, which includes balanced budgets, shoring up Social Security and erasing the debt by 2013. The vice president said Bush, in contrast, would put Social Security and Medicare at risk and explode the deficit. But his harshest remarks were targeted at the Bush tax cut plan.

GORE: The Bush tax plan could shatter confidence in our economy, sending a message to the world that in a George W. Bush administration, the era of fiscal responsibility would be over. That could raise interest rates, hurt investments, put all our property at risk and drive us into inflation and recession.

Gore says the price tag on the Bush tax plan is $2.1 trillion over 10 years, but the Bush campaign says the number is significantly less.

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What I would hope is this is a campaign of ideas, not exaggerations. But I understand, I'm running against a person who is so anxious to become the president that he will do whatever it takes.

MESERVE: Bush was campaigning in Ohio, flanked by Texas Democrats who support his candidacy. The topic of the day: helping low-income Americans put aside money for a home or business. He clearly relished drawing the contrast between his inclusive tone and message and Al Gore's more strident one.

BUSH: Today as opposed to dedicating a speech trying to tear him down, I talked about a speech how to lift people up, how to give people a chance to save. That's how I spent my morning.

MESERVE: But Gore has no intention of overhauling his game plan. In the coming days, he will be doing his best to skewer Bush's proposals on education, health care, crime and global policy.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, New York.

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