Gore makes 2000 presidential bid official today

Associated Press, January 1, 1999

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Al Gore will mail papers today to the Federal Election Commission establishing a presidential campaign committee for the 2000 election, his staff said yesterday.

The papers will name Jose Villarreal, a prominent Hispanic activist in Texas and a deputy manager of Gore and President Clinton's 1992 campaign, as the campaign treasurer. "While no formal announcement is being made right now, we have filed the necessary forms on behalf of the vice president so that initial preparations can go forward," Villarreal said.

Gore is the third Democrat to form a committee for seeking the party's presidential nomination. Former US senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey and Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota already have taken the step.

Other possible contenders for the Democratic party's nomination include the House minority leader, Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.

Another Democrat, Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, has said he would not seek the presidency in 2000.

The White House political director, Craig Smith, a veteran of the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaigns of 1992 and 1996, agreed in November to be Gore's campaign manager in the 2000 race.

Others joining Gore's campaign staff include Brian Foucart as chief financial officer, Tina Slournoy as financial director, Eric Kleinfeld as general counsel, and Lyn Utrecht as counsel.