ASHUA - In the increasingly spirited Democratic presidential contest, Al Gore and Bill Bradley clashed repeatedly but politely last night over who would do more to protect Medicare for senior citizens, provide quality health insurance to more Americans, and improve public education for more children.
The sharp exchanges occurred during a town hall meeting at Daniel Webster College, sponsored by the ABC television show ''Nightline.'' About 300 New Hampshire voters attended and asked questions about terrorism, school violence, space exploration, gay rights, health care, and education in the course of the 90-minute session in which both candidates demonstrated their mastery of policy detail - and a talent for offering very long answers to short questions.
But it was the subject of health care where the candidates differed most dramatically. The vice president, for example, pressed Bradley to explain what he would do to protect Medicare as the baby boom generation doubles the ranks of beneficiaries. And he accused Bradley of serving up a plan that would leave too many unprotected in New Hampshire and could, because of its great cost, endanger the economic expansion.
Bradley, on the other hand, said there is plenty of time to resolve concerns about the future solvency of Medicare. The more urgent question of the hour, he said, is how to help the 44 million Americans who do not have health insurance obtain it.
''The question that I would ask Al is that the difference, the main difference between our programs is that I do provide access to affordable quality health care for all Americans and his plan does not,'' Bradley said. ''So my question to you is, who will you leave out?''
Gore, however, insisted that he is intent on reaching universal health care for all Americans.
''I won't leave out anyone,'' said Gore, who favors a step-by-step health insurance expansion that begins by guaranteeing coverage for all children.
The dispute over the health care coverage has been the main source of discord between the two on the campaign trail, and it was the topic the they returned to again and again last night. In most cases, it was Gore who took the rhetorical fight to Bradley, challenging him to defend his ideas. Even when the voter question was about putting a man on Mars, the conversation turned to health care. Gore joked that it is more important to get to universal health insurance on Earth, first.
''He has yet to tell us who he'd leave out,'' Bradley interjected.
''No one,'' Gore shot back.
On Medicare, Gore said he would set aside 15 percent of the federal budget surplus to shore up the health insurance program, while accusing Bradley of offering no plan to prepare for the increased number of future seniors. Gore said there are teaching hospitals in New England that are short of Medicare funds, as well as nursing homes, home health care agencies, and rural hospitals that need more Medicare funding.
''Bill does not set aside a penny for it; he said we can save that for later,'' Gore said.
Bradley, however, cited his 18 years of work on the Senate Finance Committee, saying he had prevented Medicare premiums from going up on numerous occasions. And he said that 10 or 15 years from now, there will be cost savings because people will be healthier from more exercise, better diets, and less smoking.
''No one should doubt my commitment to making sure Medicare is solvent,'' Bradley said, noting that the program is expected to be solid until 2017.
''I don't doubt your commitment, I doubt your plan,'' Gore replied, then continued with another of his frequent criticisms of Bradley's plan:
''You cancel Medicaid and give people a $150 voucher to replace it,'' Gore said. People in New Hampshire would find no private health plans for such a low sum, he contended.
Bradley - and later his aides - disputed the $150 figure, saying there would be other sources of insurance available. The former senator also noted that his prediction about the risks of offering detailed plans had come true. ''I've said ... it was going to be like throwing raw meat in a cage of wolves and they were going to chew it up.''
The constant back-and-forth over Medicare for seniors and Bradley's health plan for other Americans last night epitomized the Democrats' contest to date. For months, the candidates have focused almost all their rhetorical cross-fire on this one subject.
But the pair also battled over school vouchers last night, with Gore accusing Bradley of not yet offering a comprehensive education proposal in his campaign, and of voting for private school vouchers while in the Senate.
Bradley said he has offered numerous education proposals, including one for early childhood education, and he said he voted for vouchers while in the Senate only as an experiment. ''I do not believe vouchers are the answer to the problems of public education,'' Bradley said, adding that he never supported taking money away from public schools to fund private school vouchers.
The candidates touched on a number of other topics, in many cases underscoring more basic areas of agreement. Both said they are strong supporters of equal rights for gays and lesbians, though both opposed legalization of gay marriage. Both advocated new forms of gun control, though Bradley was more specific on the topic.
Both said they wished the media would be more responsible about broadcasting images of sex and violence. And both said their wives would be activist first ladies.
Both were also asked whether they thought it appropriate for the Republican candidates, at their recent Iowa debate, to underscore their personal belief in God and Jesus Christ. Both said they had no problem with the assertions by the GOP candidates, though Bradley said he had decided he would not respond to such inquiries about his private beliefs.
''I think that a person's religious faith is the deepest, most intimate aspect of their lives,'' said Bradley. ''It goes to the very essence of their belief. And I believe that one must respect the religious faith of another person.''
Gore said he supports the separation of church and state, and public officials should communicate tolerance of all faiths.
