EATTLE - Bill Bradley sharpened his attack yesterday on Vice President Al Gore's record, accusing Gore of ''artfully dodging'' the truth as President Clinton did during the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal.
At a Seattle hotel, Bradley reminded abortion-rights activists that Gore said in the 1980s that abortion is ''arguably the taking of a human life,'' a phrase that gave then-Senator Gore some political wiggle room in addressing the concerns of antiabortion and abortion-rights forces.
''Of course, `arguably' means different things to different people. And it sounds familiar. The parsing of words is not what women need,'' the former New Jersey senator said.
Though Bradley declined to elaborate in a news conference afterward, his comments were clearly a thinly veiled reference to Clinton's argument about the definition of the word ''is'' during a deposition regarding his sexual affair with Lewinsky.
Bradley has criticized Gore's position switch on federal funding of abortions before. Yesterday was the first time Bradley, facing a slate of crucial primary elections March 7 in his so-far winless effort to capture the Democratic nomination, invoked the darkest public episode of fellow Democrtat Clinton in an attempt to weaken Gore.
Bradley has repeatedly raised abortion and gun control as issues on which Gore has changed his positions. But the effort does not seem to have had much impact on voters.
Gore's lead is widening in opinion polls in California and New York, two key states in the March 7 primaries. Bradley attributed part of the problem to the national attention commanded by Republican contender Senator John McCain, who is running surprisingly well against Texas Governor George W. Bush.
Gore has admitted that his position changed on both gun control and abortion.
''Early in my career, I did wrestle with the question of Medicaid funding'' for abortions, Gore said at a private fund-raiser in Los Angeles Thursday night. ''But since then, I have come to believe that because poor women deserve the same constitutional right to safe, legal abortions that more affluent women have, they need Medicaid funding so they can make that decision for themselves.''
''I do not need a lecture from Senator Bradley about how to protect a woman's right to choose,'' Gore thundered, drawing applause.
The Gore campaign also has trotted out letters and testimonials from abortion-rights advocates and organizations, insisting that his commitment to abortion rights is strong.
''We're talking about someone from the South, who grew up in a different environment than people in California did,'' said California Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat who has endorsed Gore. ''He's not a Johnny-come-lately in his support for the pro-choice movement.''
Told of Gore's comments Thursday night, Bradley said he commended him for the explanation, but said leaders ''should not have to wait until you are having your teeth pulled'' to explain themselves.
Gore's campaign also acknowledges that the vice president has changed his view on gun control, an evolution that spokesman Chris Lehane attributed to increased gun violence in the 1980s.
''Times change. And solutions change. The public wants a leader who can respond to changing times,'' Lehane said. ''His position has changed. It's as simple as that.''
While Bradley was criticizing Gore, the vice president virtually ignored his opponent yesterday as he campaigned in California and picked up the endorsements of two gay-rights groups, the Stonewall Democratic Club and the Human Rights Campaign.
Speaking to the Stonewall Democratic Club, Gore gave an emotional tribute to Matthew Shepard, a gay youth who was murdered in Wyoming last year. Gore also attacked Republicans for their lack of action on hate crimes legislation.
In his speech, Gore didn't mention Bradley, whose views on gay rights are virtually the same. Bradley has been endorsed by a number of gay and lesbian groups in New York and California.
''It's the experience factor,'' said Bob Mahlowitz, a gay-rights advocate, explaining why he prefers Gore over Bradley.
Milligan reported from Seattle, Hohler from California.
