Sen. Edward Kennedy endorsed Vice President Al Gore for president today, saying his former Senate colleague had "the ability, the experience and the wisdom" to lead the nation in the new century.

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Value of endorsements debated in N.H., Iowa

Kennedy said Gore had been "the voice for working families in this country" as a senator. The Massachusetts Democrat noted that he had served in the Senate with both Gore and his father, Al Gore Sr., and he said: "The Gores of Tennessee represent the best in public service of our nation and the best in commitment to the democratic ideals of our party."

Kennedy and Gore appeared today at Grover Cleveland Middle School in the city's Dorchester section to talk about education policy before heading north to Portsmouth, N.H., to discuss health care with senior citizens.

The two issues are paramount to Kennedy, a liberal hero to many Democrats, and have been mainstays of Gore's campaign for the party's presidential nomination. In his endorsement, Kennedy said Gore was "an effective leader" on these issues and "for the many other great causes we share."

"No one has fought harder or been a stronger voice for our Democratic priorities than Al Gore," said Kennedy.

In recent months, the vice president has seen his once sizable lead in polls for New Hampshire's Feb. 1 primary diminish in the face of a strong challenge from Bill Bradley, the former New Jersey senator. That had caused some Democrats to encourage Kennedy to make an early endorsement.

Kennedy normally does not endorse candidates before the party's nominating convention. The decision to act now came after reflection over the Christmas holiday and a phone call between Kennedy and Gore since New Year's, according to people in the Kennedy camp.

Gore supporters had pushed for the endorsement.

Kennedy, brother of President Kennedy, sought the presidency himself in 1980. He has served in the Senate not only with both Gore and rival Democratic contender Bill Bradley but with the vice president's late father, Al Gore Sr., in the 1960s.

The Kennedy camp said the endorsement should not be viewed as a slap against Bradley, who has unveiled a health care plan that Gore has criticized.

Bradley suggested the development only bolstered his contention that Gore, unlike him, is a Washington insider.

"I thought all along he would have more of the establishment support," Bradley told reporters Tuesday in Bedford, N.H.

"All I have are the people. He has entrenched power, he has a president who is supporting him, loyal to him -- as he was loyal to the president -- he's got most of the DNC (Democratic National Committee), he's got most of the big Democratic fund-raisers, he rides on Air Force Two. That is entrenched power," Bradley said.

The Kennedy endorsement was sure to garner huge coverage in the Boston media -- which spills into vote-rich southern New Hampshire.

It also may trigger other endorsements by the Massachusetts congressional delegation, which largely has held off endorsing in the primary. Democratic Rep. Ed Markey took his name off that wait-and-see list Tuesday by campaigning for Gore in Iowa. Gore's campaign said Markey's endorsement brought the number of House Democrats backing the vice president to 122.