ASHINGTON - George W. Bush retains a huge lead among those inclined to vote in the Republican presidential race, but Senator John McCain has doubled his share of the national vote in the last six weeks, according to a Gallup poll released yesterday. Bush, the governor of Texas, had the support of 63 percent of the voters nationally, but McCain, a senator from Arizona, increased his share of national support from 8 percent in early October to 16 percent in the latest Gallup poll. The other Republican candidates - Gary Bauer, Steve Forbes, Senator Orrin Hatch, and Alan Keyes - were all in the single digits. Bush and McCain are locked in a fierce struggle in New Hampshire, site of the nation's first presidential primary. On the Democratic side, Vice President Al Gore led former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, 54 percent to 35 percent, among those inclined to vote in that party's primary. Bush led both Gore and Bradley by about 15 points in head-to-head matchups. The telephone poll of 1,010 people taken Thursday through Sunday has an error margin of 3 percentage points, larger for subgroups like Democrats and Republicans. (AP)
Gore makes pitch to Democratic base
BURLINGTON, Iowa - Vice President Al Gore, focusing squarely on his party's political base, told Democratic activists yesterday that ''my passions'' are rooted in the party's core themes. Meanwhile, he questioned his rival's commitment, urging ''those who care about Democratic values'' to look closely at proposals offered by former senator Bill Bradley on issues ranging from schools to health care. ''I feel passionately about these issues,'' said Gore. From abortion rights to more money for schools to popular health programs, Gore left few traditional Democratic issues untouched. (AP)
Bradley faults Gore on fund-raising
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Bill Bradley, stepping up his criticism of Al Gore, yesterday said the vice president did not learn the lessons from the Democratic Party's fund-raising scandals of 1996. Speaking before about 200 students and faculty of New Hampshire College, the former New Jersey senator reiterated his proposal to revamp the role of money in politics if he is elected president, while criticizing reports that Gore's campaign is coordinating the vice president's official appearances with his campaign strategy. (Los Angeles Times)
McCain proposes a tutoring network
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. - Republican presidential contender John McCain said yesterday that he wants to create a pool of military veterans, retirees, and others who would tutor students in math, science, and English. ''You really need to have a lot more people helping kids get their education,'' McCain, a US senator, said while campaigning in his home state. Tutors can help reinforce the message that education is important and give students the support they need to succeed, McCain said. If tutors aren't available in some neighborhoods, the Internet may be able to link them with students, he said. (AP)
