Gore Campaign Boss: Nader Can Hurt Us

W A S H I N G T O N, July 12 -- Al Gore’s new campaign chairman hopes to usenext month’s Democratic National Convention to shatter any publicperception of the vice president as “just a boring stiff.”

In an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press, William Daleyalso conceded that Green Party candidate Ralph Nader threatens tosiphon support from Gore. Allies inside and outside the Gorecampaign have made informal overtures to Nader supporters, Daleysaid.

“There’s been some discussions but kind of just, What is this?Why are you over there? ƒ Nothing official where we’ve approachedthe candidate.”

Secretary Daley spoke from his office in the CommerceDepartment, which he leaves this week to replace Tony Coelho, whoresigned last month for health reasons.

The Goal

Intimately involved with planning for the Aug. 14-17 conventionin Los Angeles, Daley said his major goal is to introduce Gore toAmericans as “the potential next president” and chip away at astereotype.

“Obviously, it would be great for those people who have beenconvinced for eight years that he’s just a boring stiff, anunable-to-speak guy — that he comes through as a real person,”Daley said.

Gore is already focused on his performance, strategists said,and has, for weeks now, been tossing ideas to his speech writers andworking more with a TelePromTer.

President Clinton will provide “lift-off” in prime time on thefirst night. “It’s going to be a rock ‘em, sock ‘em night — athank-you to him — but when he leaves, it’s Al Gore’s nominationthat takes place and Al Gore’s convention and campaign,” Daleysaid.

How About Hillary?

Party sources say first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, a candidatefor Senate from New York, is tentatively slated to speak the samenight as her husband, leaving the spotlight to Gore after that.

Daley said Mrs. Clinton will land “a prominent role,” thoughher campaign and Gore’s team have not settled the details.