harpening his debate challenge to Bill Bradley, Vice President Al Gore's campaign chairman formally requested a meeting with the Bradley campaign to set up ''a thoughtful series of debates'' between the two candidates for the Democratic nomination for president.
Also yesterday, Gore accepted an invitation from WMUR-TV to appear with Bradley at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., for a town meeting on Oct. 27.
After four recent polls showed Gore in a statistical dead heat with Bradley in New Hampshire, the vice president decided to move his campaign headquarters to Tennessee, challenge Bradley to debates, and begin holding town hall-style forums.
Until now, Gore has ignored Bradley and has focused on challenging Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Republican front-runner.
In a letter to Doug Berman, the head of the Bradley team, Gore's chairman, Tony Coelho, wrote: ''On several occasions during the past few days, Senator Bradley has seemed hesitant to join Al and our campaign in reaching out to the American people through an increased number of debates that would allow each candidate to thoroughly present their views.''
Tony Wyche, a spokesman for Bradley, said that the letter had been received and that Gore's campaign would be given a response.
Bush, meanwhile, has declined an invitation to a town hall meeting for the GOP candidates at Dartmouth on Oct. 28. A Bush aide said he will be in Dallas that day to attend an event at which his wife, Laura, will receive an award.
Michael Kranish of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
