Moynihan just endorsed Bradley, says Gore can't win.
Moynihan Endorses Bradley
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) -- Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan today endorsed Bill
Bradley for the Democratic presidential nomination. He said the former
New Jersey senator's only opponent, Vice President Al Gore, ''can't be
elected.''
Moynihan called Bradley ''a man with heart and courage and stamina.''
''You can't govern, as Woodrow Wilson said, without those qualities.
He has shown them all his life in one way or another,'' he said.
An appreciative Bradley acknowledged that his campaign is ''up against
an establishment,'' but he said that Moynihan's endorsement was
''important. I think people will take notice.''
Asked why he preferred Bradley over Gore, Moynihan responded
simply, ''Nothing is the matter with Gore, but he can't be elected.''
Gore, in New York to address a conference on business investment in
South Africa, took no questions from reporters. But his spokesman,
Chris Lehane, said: ''We look forward to the day when Senator
Moynihan will join Congressman (Charles) Rangel and countless other
New York Democrats in working on behalf of Vice President Gore's
campaign for the presidency after he gets the nomination.''
Moynihan, a New York Democrat who is retiring from the Senate, and
Bradley have been friends for more than two decades. Bradley served
three terms as a New Jersey senator, and spent time with Moynihan on
the Senate Finance Committee.
The announcement was made at the 92nd Street Y, where Bradley often
worked out while winning two NBA title with the New York Knicks. It
was an unusual location for a political announcement; the ''Y'' is better
known as a spot for cultural events and book readings.
Moynihan held up a copy of Bradley's 1996 memoir, ''Time Present,
Time Past,'' and called it ''a brilliant book.'' He again quoted Wilson as
saying that presidents come from ''wise and prudent athletes, a small
class.''
Bradley, a Rhodes Scholar, was an All-American basketball player at
Princeton before joining the Knicks.
Moynihan is the third senator to endorse Bradley, joining colleagues Paul
Wellstone of Minnesota and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska.
Gore has been endorsed by more than 100 members of Congress.
While national polls have indicated that Gore is still the Democratic
leader, recent polls in New Hampshire and New York have shown a
tight race between Bradley and the vice president.
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