Bradley, McCain agree to meeting

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 12/10/99

ASHINGTON - The campaigns of Democrat Bill Bradley and Republican John McCain yesterday agreed to meet in New Hampshire on Dec. 16 to discuss the need for overhaul of the campaign finance system, a source close to negotiations said last night.

The two candidates are likely to meet in Claremont, where President Clinton and former house speaker Newt Gingrich met in 1995 and shook hands on the need to reform the campaign system. No legislation has passed as a result of the handshake, however, which has provided an opening for Bradley and McCain to use the same setting to boost their candidacies.

While Bradley and McCain are fighting for independent voters, both believe the meeting is in their interest because they want to present themselves as reformers within their parties.