WNT: Gore Gives Exclusive Interview

— -- Shortly after Al Gore embarked on a riverboat campaign trip down the Mississippi, he gave his first post-convention interview to ABCNEWS’ Terry Moran.

By Terry Moran

ABCNEWS.com

HARPER’S FERRY, Wis., Aug. 18 — Last night, after delivering his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, Vice President Al Gore flew to Wisconsin and embarked on a campaign boat ride down the Mississippi.

The vice president was a bit hoarse, but clearly eager to hit the trail. Joined by running mate Joe Lieberman and their families, Gore spent a glorious Midwestern day aboard the riverboat Mark Twain as it paddled downstream past the high bluffs and small towns along the Upper Mississippi.

Gore gave his first interview after last night’s acceptance. He said that he felt good about his speech. He also responded to Republican criticisms that his populist message — pitting what he calls “working families” against corporations and upper-income Americans — amounts to a kind of class warfare.

“I see it as a uniting approach to put the emphasis on working families,” Gore said. “I’ve done it all my career.”

And when Gore was asked about the new grand jury investigation into President Clinton’s conduct in the Lewinsky affair, he replied, “It’s not proper to comment on a legal proceeding, but I’ll tell you what I am going to comment on: This election is about the future of America.”

Gore shared his thoughts on other topics as well. Below are excerpts from the interview:

TERRY MORAN: Do you think you connected with the American people last night?

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE: I felt it. I hope they did.

MORAN: Do you think that in these good times, people are more comfortable with corporate success?

GORE: Profits are a good thing — but all things in moderation.

MORAN: “You haven’t done the job,” is what Bush says.

GORE: Well, actually in the last seven and a half years, we did turn the biggest deficits into the biggest surpluses. But we have much more to do.