fter a morning spent preaching his education policies in Maine, Al Gore yesterday paid a visit to the choir: heavily Democratic Boston, for a rally at Long Wharf and a million-dollar fund-raiser at the Park Plaza Hotel.
Flanked by his running mate, Connecticut Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and two Kennedys - Senator Edward M. Kennedy and his nephew, former US Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II - Gore arrived in novel fashion, with a blustery ferry ride across a gleaming Boston Harbor.
As the sun set over the harbor, lighting up the many sailboats behind him, Gore told an appreciative crowd of about 2,000 of his great fondness for Boston.
''I love this city,'' Gore said. ''I proposed to my wife Tipper in this city.''
All of Gore's and Lieberman's rallying cries found cheers, all the punchlines laughter. At one point, Menino, as if conceding the redundancy of the rally, urged those in the crowd to spread the word to people in other states.
''You've got this crowd well-prepared, Teddy,'' Lieberman joked at one point.
Not quite well-prepared enough, however. When Gore rose to speak, a small but loud group of protesters raised signs and chanted, ''Al Gore's a corporate puppet!'' and ''Fair trade, not free trade!'' and ''No blood for oil!''
One Gore supporter moved close to the group and began shaking a Gore sign, to no avail.
''We need more signs,'' he said, forlornly. A group of Carpenters' Union members wearing black T-shirts rushed over to block the protesters. A scuffle ensued, and police, who descended on the area, removed the unionists, leaving the protesters to their chants.
They were so loud that Gore had to recognize them. ''Let's hear it for the First Amendment,'' he yelled, to deafening cheers. ''Let's hear it for freedom of speech!''
From then on, he pulled out all the stops to whip the crowd into cheers loud enough to take back the rally. He repeated the I-may-be-boring-but-I-can-do-a-great-job mantra begun with his speech at the Democratic National Convention, in a form especially tailored to his audience. ''I will not always be the most exciting politician, like Tom Menino,'' he said.
More deafening cheers.
From the rally, at which he hit many populist notes, Gore went on to the Western-themed fund-raiser at the Park Plaza, where singer James Taylor was to entertain the crowd. A thousand guests each paid $1,000 to attend the event, which raised $2.5 million.
Protesters managed to enter the fund-raiser as well, bearing ''Free Mumia'' signs, and chanting ''Stop the death penalty.'' Gore dealt with them in the same way that he dealt with protesters at Long Wharf, yelling back, ''Let's hear it for the First Amendment! Let's hear it for free speech! Let's hear it for the Bill of Rights! Let's hear it for the Boston Tea Party!'' With each call Gore elicited a louder response from the audience, eventually drowning out the protesters, who were removed from the room by security.
Yesterday was typical of Gore's campaign style, mixing detailed discussion of the issues with boisterous rallies and glittering fund-raisers.
Tomorrow, after yet another day devoted to his education message, Gore plans to appear on the David Letterman Show in New York, and attend yet another money marathon, picking up $5 million at a Radio City Music Hall gala hosted by Michael Douglas, and attended by actors Julia Roberts and Ben Affleck, among many others.
But between the celebrity-filled events, Gore relentlessly focuses on the issue he is convinced will help him win the election: education. He spent Tuesday night at the home of a Maine teacher, as he often does on what he calls ''school days.'' Yesterday, he headed to Lewiston High School. Addressing the US history class of teacher Joan M. Macri, Gore got a lesson himself. The blackboard featured pictures of past presidents - including George Bush, the father of his Republican opponent - as well as a fact sheet about the difficulty of vice presidents ascending to the presidency.
Earlier in the day at a news conference on the State House steps, Governor Paul Cellucci gave Gore failing grades on his education record and proposals.
The governor stood in front of a placard labeled ''Al Gore's Education Report Card.'' He gave the vice-president a ''D-'' on ''cutting red tape,'' and three ''F's'' for ''closing the achievement gap,'' ''insisting on accountabilty and standards'' and ''expanding parental choice.''
Scott S. Greenberger of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
