AMES, Iowa -- In a final pre-holiday burst, Vice President Al Gore ripped rival Bill Bradley's commitment to schools and said the former U.S. senator from New Jersey can't be trusted on farm issues.

Firing back immediately, Bradley derided a $50 billion preschool plan Gore unveiled, and said Gore must accept responsibility for economic woes in the heartland.

Setting the stage for a one-man ''debate'' on farm policy at Iowa State University, Gore said Bradley had fought key farm proposals for years in the Senate, converting only when he decided to run for president.

Bradley retorted quickly on the farm issue, an important one in this agriculture-dependent state that holds the first nominating caucuses on Jan. 24. As the Clinton administration's No. 2 man, he said, Gore must shoulder some of the blame for the current stagnant farm economy.

''After seven years, the vice president has offered nothing more than negative attacks and distortions,'' Bradley said. ''They have not put forward a comprehensive approach to farm policy, nor have they articulated a vision for rural America.''

In Washington, meanwhile, President Clinton said in an interview Wednesday that he was surprised but intrigued by Gore's proposal that vice president and Bradley give up advertising and debate more often. Clinton also said that should one man choose the other as a running mate, ''it'd be a good ticket.''

''The more debates they have, the better,'' Clinton said in the interview taped for CNN's ''Larry King Live,'' to be aired tonight. ''I think we need to find out whether we can have elections without the kind of money that they cost today'' because of advertising.

For more than an hour Gore was quizzed on details of farm policy by a panel of experts. He took note of Bradley's absence, but only in a gentle way, describing him as ''a man who has been my friend.''

''But he's not here, so I'll respond to your questions,'' Gore said.

Gore broke little new ground, sticking to his main campaign theme that the 1996 Freedom to Farm law needs to be overhauled.

He called for a farm policy ''explicitly designed to maintain the viability of the family farm.'' Gore also said he would push for tougher enforcement of antitrust laws to counter increasing concentration in the farm industry.

Gore urged Congress to act soon.

''We cannot wait until the current farm bill expires in 2002,'' Gore said. ''The nature of the safety net is unacceptable.''

Gore went to an elementary school to talk about his plan, to be phased in over 10 years, to make preschool programs available to all 4-year-olds. States would get grants of roughly $2,700 per student for guaranteeing preschool programs would be available.

It is part of a $115 billion plan on education Gore has proposed that would also give $5,000 raises to most teachers in poor and rural areas, mandate testing of new teachers and seek to establish more charter schools.

The money would come from the nation's budget surplus, Gore said.

''If kids get off to a great start before they ever get to kindergarten, the chances for them to succeed in life, to have good jobs, to lead fulfilling lives is greatly enhanced,'' he said.

In an interview, he said that Bradley ''continues to be fascinated'' with school vouchers, which Gore said would drain money from public schools. And he said the former New Jersey senator has not offered sweeping proposals on schools.

Bradley also shot back on that issue, accusing Gore of a ''breach of faith'' and arguing the budget numbers don't add up.

Gore rejected any suggestion that he was resorting to attack politics. ''When I point out these shortcomings, I think that's what democracy ought to be all about,'' he said.

In addition, Gore was seeking contrast with Bradley on farm issues. Liberal farm groups had invited both Democratic candidates to the Wednesday night debate. Bradley declined, and Gore set the one-sided debate to make the argument that Bradley isn't solid on farm issues.

''I know farmers are paying attention,'' Gore said. ''Many of them are feeling desperate.''

He criticized Bradley's opposition to federal subsidies for ethanol, and he said the former senator had a poor record on other farm issues.

Bradley's campaign distributed a statement saying Gore should accept responsibility for the soft condition of the farm economy.

''For seven years the Clinton-Gore administration has presided over a farm crisis of historic proportions,'' Bradley said. He argued that his views had changed since the years when he represented a generally urban state in Congress.