ASHINGTON - In a bipartisan trashing of his leading rivals, Vice President Al Gore suggested yesterday that economic proposals from both Bill Bradley and George W. Bush would drive up interest rates and end the economy's unprecedented expansion. Bush has called for broad tax cuts that Gore labeled ''a scorched-earth policy'' leading inevitably to budget deficits. Gore has routinely attacked GOP tax cut plans, but during yesterday's conference call, he lumped Democrat Bradley in the same group. He argued the former senator's economic package includes ''a handful of timid proposals'' dwarfed by a giant health proposal. (AP)
Sierra Club spots
set to attack Bush
CONCORD, N.H. - Hoping to inject environmental issues into the political debate, the Sierra Club plans a series of advertisements taking aim at GOP front-runner George W. Bush's record in Texas. The Washington-based environmental group will begin spending tens of thousands of dollars today to blanket New Hampshire's television and radio news outlets with advertisements critical of the Texas governor's record on air pollution. The group hopes its ads will inspire Bush's opponents to raise the issue during a debate in Manchester on Thursday. (AP)
Sanders won't seek
Vt. seat in Senate
BURLINGTON, Vt. - US Representative Bernard Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, says there were times in the past year when he was planning on challenging US Senator James Jeffords, a Vermont Republican, in next year's elections. ''What my heart tells me is it is best for the state of Vermont and for the things I am fighting for to stay where I am,'' Sanders said yesterday, announcing his decision to seek reelection to the House. The announcement ended a year of courtship by Democratic leaders in the Senate and House. Senate Democrats said they felt Sanders was the best hope of defeating Jeffords; House Democratic leaders said they felt Sanders would keep the seat from going to the GOP. (AP)
N.Y. Conservatives
challenge Giuliani
ALBANY, N.Y. - The head of New York's Conservative Party said yesterday he has prospective candidates waiting in the wings if New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani won't move to the right to seek the third-party's ballot line for US Senate. Michael Long, the party's chairman, refused to identify them. New York allows major party candidates to run on minor-party ballot lines as well. No Republican has won a statewide race in New York since 1974 without Conservative Party backing. (AP)
