Vice President visits Iowa

Vice President Al Gore makes a stop in Des Moines this afternoon, a visit democrat Governor Tom Vilsack says accelerates Gore’s Iowa campaign effort. Gore is the leading democrat for the party’s next presidential nomination, but Vilsack says former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley’s challenge is legitimate. During an appearance on Iowa Public Television, Vilsack said Gore does NOT have the race locked up in Iowa. Vilsack isn’t endorsing a candidate, but won’t completely rule out the possibility he may endorse someone later on. Vilsack discounts polls which show republicans George W. Bush and Elizabeth Dole beating Gore if the election were held today. Vilsack says present-day polls say nothing of how the presidential race will turn out.