ASHINGTON - Al Gore's campaign chairman said the vice president would consider cable TV and other offers for debates with George W. Bush only after sealing a deal with the Presidential Commission on Debates for three matchups.
William Daley rejected forums such as CNN's ''Larry King Live'' as ''the wrong way to go'' yesterday because they wouldn't reach as many viewers as commission debates available to all broadcasters.
''We have said that we would be happy to entertain other opportunities for the American people to see these candidates together, on top of, and after the commission debates,'' he said.
Bush spokeswoman Mindy Tucker said Gore was moving away from his acceptance of dozens of debate offers and a challenge to Bush to accept any or all.
''They seem to be getting picky all of a sudden about which debates they will do after months of saying they will do all of them,'' Tucker said.
''Governor Bush still looks forward to debating in a forum that as many people as possible can see.''
Bush, the GOP governor of Texas, has not accepted debate offers yet. His aides met yesterday with commission members.
Gore has accepted the commission's three October debates, and others. The first would occur in Boston Oct. 3.
Separately, Gore said he will launch his Labor Day campaigning with a cross-country trek billed as an ''American Workathon'' leading up to an economic policy speech Wednesday.
''This workathon is a demonstration of the commitment Joe Lieberman and I have to make up for what we might lack in flash with hard work,'' Gore said, referring to his running mate.
The Labor Day blitz begins tomorrow with a meeting with workers at a downtown construction site in Philadelphia.
From there, Gore and Lieberman will head for Flint, Mich., to meet with hospital workers at a late-night shift change.
After Flint, there's a red-eye flight to Tampa, Fla., to chat with voters at an all-night diner and bakery, before breakfast at dawn with firefighters.
The two will split up at that point, with Lieberman heading for a Labor Day parade in Detroit while Gore flies to Pittsburgh.
Gore will join union workers at a park to mark Labor Day there, then head to Louisville, Ky., to wrap up his marathon with an evening rally outside a motor speedway.
