ORBA LINDA, Calif. - Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes compared China to pre-World War II Germany and Japan and promised yesterday to take a hard line on China if it continues ''to head down the path towards confrontation.'' China is ''in the midst of a major military buildup'' and represents a ''potential threat,'' Forbes said at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace. ''We must not allow China's growing nuclear arsenal to continue to threaten American cities and decouple the United States from our allies,'' he told about 400 people in a speech meant to showcase his command of foreign affairs. (AP)
Bradley speaks out in support of judge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley said yesterday that the rejection of a black Missouri Supreme Court judge's nomination to the federal bench was ''a dark day'' in the history of the US Senate. Led by Missouri's two Republican senators, the Senate last month voted to reject the nomination of Ronnie White in a 54-45 vote. Critics, including Senators Christopher Bond and John Ashcroft, had argued that law enforcement groups opposed White's nomination because he had too often dissented on death penalty rulings. ''I am embarrassed and appalled by the actions of the two senators from Missouri,'' said Bradley, a Missouri native, who was announcing a steering committee for his state campaign. (AP)
Gore cancels plan to visit Microsoft
WASHINGTON - Vice President Al Gore yesterday abruptly canceled plans to address Microsoft employees, a week after a federal judge ruled that the software giant misused its monopoly powers. The Democratic presidential candidate's campaign cited the company's refusal to allow reporters into the gathering. ''While the vice president greatly appreciates Microsoft's invitation to speak to the company's employees, in light of the company's closed-press policy, the vice president is respectfully canceling his planned visit Monday,'' Chris Lehane said. (AP)
New poll confirms Gore, Bush leads
WASHINGTON - George W. Bush and Al Gore have big leads in their parties' presidential nomination races, according to a Time-CNN poll out yesterday. The poll also indicated people have more faith in the Democratic Party - by a 40 percent-to-28 percent margin - to do a better job of handling the nation's problems. According to the poll, Bush had roughly a 10-point lead over either Gore or Bill Bradley in a head-to-head matchup with the two Democrats. (AP)
Primary vote high on McCain's agenda
CONCORD, N.H. - Arizona Senator John McCain took a lunch break from his campaign bus tour yesterday to register for the state's Republican presidential primary. McCain filed his paperwork and $1,000 fee two days after George W. Bush handed in his own check, and one day after a poll of New Hampshire voters showed him tied with the Texas governor for the first time. McCain said he would need the ''perception of a win'' in New Hampshire's Feb. 1 primary to stay competitive, but wouldn't say whether that means a first-place finish. (AP)
