Dems Highlight Prominent Liberals
— -- On a day when President Clinton effectively handed Vice President Al Gore the party leadership, the Democrats showcased some of the strongest and most famous voices of their liberal wing.
By Brian Hartman
ABCNEWS.comLOS ANGELES, Aug. 16— On a day when President Clinton symbolically handed Al Gore the leadership of the Democratic party, its members gathered to showcase the strongest voices of its liberal wing and to define the stakes of the forthcoming election.
Now eyes turn to the more centrist Sen. Joe Lieberman, Gore’s vice-presidential nominee, who will tell his personal story and make some direct attacks on the Bush-Cheney ticket, according to aides.
Lieberman’s speech will be divided into three parts. First, he’ll tell his story, emphasizing his working-class parents and his education. He’ll then launch into a comparison of his ticket with Bush and Cheney’s, though aides said the speech will avoid personal attacks on the Republicans. Finally, Lieberman will talk about Al Gore’s qualities as a friend, a father and a fighter.
Lieberman told the Associated Press that his aim in the speech will be to introduce himself to the American people, to talk about “the Al Gore that I know and I think a lot of Americans still don’t know” and to warn that a Republican victory would turn the nation away from “the positive course that it’s on.”
Gore’s daughter Karenna, Lieberman’s wife Hadassah and the actor Tommy Lee Jones (Gore’s roommate at Harvard) are also scheduled to speak during ABC’s prime-time coverage tonight, starting at 10 p.m. ET. New York senator Chuck Schumer will talk about gun control earlier in the evening.
Backed By Bradley
Tuesday night, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley told those who passionately supported his primary fight to swallow their pride and stay motivated because “Now we’re in the general election and it’s absolutely essential that we get behind Al Gore.”
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