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Gore rivals embolden by scandal
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Monica Lewinsky and campaign fund-raising investigations have
ambitious Democrats thinking harder than ever about challenging Al Gore for the presidential
nomination in 2000.
By nearly every measure, the vice president is still the odds-on favorite: He can raise loads of
money, organize key activists and tap the political powers of the White House.
Yet his rivals see weakness.
Their supporters point to a recent poll showing Gore's advantage over Democrats slipping in New
Hampshire, and another that had Republican Gov. George W. Bush of Texas ahead of the vice
president in a head-to-head matchup.
They also note that Gore may soon have his own special prosecutor investigating allegations of
wrongdoing in the 1996 presidential campaign.
Yet the vice president and two potential challengers showed no sign of division as they addressed
the Democratic National Committee on Saturday. Gore, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of
Missouri and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson unleashed a united attack on how Republicans are
handling the Lewinsky inquiry.
Jackson accused Republicans of judging ''character through a keyhole.''
Gephardt said GOP lawmakers can only promise ''two more years of inquiries and investigations.''
Typically loyal, Gore called Clinton ''my friend'' and accused Republicans of wallowing in
''investigations and personal attacks.''
Jackson was the only speaker to mention the presidential race, promising to push the agenda of
Americans in most need. ''I have not decided to run the race in 2000, but I will set the pace in
2000,'' he declared.
Nearly every potential Gore rival has had a voice in the Lewinsky affair. Each wrestles with the same
dilemma: Denounce Clinton and risk alienating primary voters; go easy on him and risk falling behind
the political curve.
Gephardt, as leader of the Democratic effort to win back the House, at first talked seriously about
impeachment. He was trying to shield Democratic candidates from Lewinsky fallout, but has been
more supportive of Clinton lately.
Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska have tried to appear
statesmanlike. Jackson, typifying the overriding sentiment of black voters, has strongly supported
Clinton.
Gore's loyalty may be improving his standing among hard-core Democratic voters who are crucial in
presidential primary elections.
''People are beginning to look and see who is loyal, who is a friend when a friend is in need,'' said
Betty Liggins, a DNC member from Tuscon, Ariz.
''The African-American community feels that loyalty is important, and Gore is nothing if not loyal,''
said DNC member Lisa Webb, an aide to Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. ''I think those who are
keeping a distance (from Clinton) are making a mistake.''
Without lifting a finger, the vice president may also benefit from people hedging their bets in case
Clinton resigns. Gore allies say some donors and activists are signing up in case he becomes
president sooner rather than later.
On the downside for Gore:
-He has lost support, at least temporarily, among swing voters who have turned against Clinton.
-If Clinton's job approval rating begins to fall, Gore may be hard-pressed to keep his polls numbers
afloat, because he is so closely tied to the president's agenda.
-The controversy may hurt Gore's ability to define why he should be president.
''At some point you have to step out on your own and make a difference. If you do too little, you
look like you're hiding. If you do too much, you look like your distancing yourself,'' said Mary Anne
Marsh,'' a Kerry ally. ''I don't envy him.''
For all those reasons, a Gephardt ally speaking on condition of anonymity says the Lewinsky scandal
is bad for Gore, good for any of his rivals.
Gore backers point to polls showing that his approval rating is high, and Democratic voters
nationwide favor him over potential rivals by large margins. They say he probably would benefit if
there is a large Democratic field dividing up the votes of people who want a change from the
Clinton-Gore administration.
''He's got enough of record for people to decide what kind of a job he's done,'' said Gore adviser
Bob Squier. After November's elections, the vice president will start articulating his policy plans for
the future.
''He has to answer the question, 'Where do we go from here?''' Squier said. ''He will.''
For his rivals, the question is: Do I run? Enough may answer yes to create a crowded field.
Gephardt supporters believe the Missouri Democrat would be tempted to stay out of the presidential
sweepstakes if he could become House speaker. But he is said to believe Clinton's troubles have
lessened the prospect of Democrats winning the House in November or in 2000.
Supporters of former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey think he could catch fire if integrity becomes a
campaign issue. Bradley recently said Clinton ''squandered the people's trust.''
Kerry proposed that Clinton appear before the House Judiciary Committee as part of a deal to end
the crisis. A Kerry ally said many people would be grateful to him if that occurred.
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