ASHVILLE - Declaring that ''home is where we start from,'' Vice President Al Gore moved his campaign to Tennessee yesterday and named a new campaign manager, diversifying his inner circle as part of an effort to re-energize his presidential bid.
''It's a new day,'' he said to about 200 cheering supporters including his wife, Tipper, and his 87-year-old mother, Pauline.
Adopting a more casual look, Gore cut a ribbon to officially open his headquarters.
''This is a very powerful moment in this campaign,'' he said. ''Powerful because of what home means. ... Home is not only a place, it's an idea that we return to. Home is where we start from. Home is where we learn our values. It's where we return to remember ourselves in the best sense.''
Moving the campaign headquarters from Washington to his home state is part of Gore's attempt to shake his image as a Beltway insider, distance himself from President Clinton, and retool a campaign that has been losing momentum to Bill Bradley, the former New Jersey senator who is his only rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Gore told reporters he plans to run a less-scripted campaign.
''My attitude is let 'er rip,'' he said.
Gore shunned a stage that had been set up for his speech, choosing to walk in front of his supporters while speaking.
The vice president opened his remarks by introducing his new campaign manager, Donna Brazile. She replaces Craig Smith, a longtime Clinton aide who did not want to relocate to Tennessee with the campaign.
Brazile, who worked for 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, is one of the party's most experienced organizers. The appointment of Brazile, who is black, helps diversify Gore's inner circle, which has been criticized for being dominated by white males.
