NATIONAL BRIEFS

Koch drops Gore, supports Bradley

Associated Press, May 28, 1999

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Former New York City mayor Ed Koch, who supported Al Gore the last time he ran for president, said yesterday he does not believe the vice president can win the White House. And, Koch said, "If I had to vote tomorrow, I'd vote for [Bill] Bradley," Gore's only declared Democratic rival. Asked about Koch's comments, Gore campaign spokesman Roger Salazar said that "as people get to know more about Al Gore, we think they'll respond to that and we feel very confident that he's going to win." Calling Gore "a nice guy," Koch said "the reason I don't think he can get elected is that he can't separate himself from President Clinton's record, the good and the bad."