Gore descends on Philadelphia

Vice President Al gore spoke at a $1,000-per-person dinner in Center City earlier this week. Before a crowd of approximately 500 ardent supporters and local politicians, Vice President Al Gore readily confessed his two main concerns on Monday evening. The first, as a politician, is to win the presidential election in 2000. The second, as a father, is to see his soon-to-be born first grandchild. But first things first. As part of his current presidential campaign -- aptly-titled Gore 2000 -- the vice president spoke Monday at a $1,000-per-person fundraising dinner, held at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel at 17th and Race streets. The event, which brought together hordes of prominent local Democrats, featured several buffet tables, a live band and a short video that chronicled Gore's life and achievements. Gore 2000 officials expected to raise about $500,000. Gore was joined on stage by Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell -- whom the vice president himself once dubbed "America's Mayor" -- and former City Council President and Democratic mayoral nominee John Street, as well as others local politicians and prominent donors. Rendell -- whom one playful poster suggested could be the vice president's running mate in 2000 -- introduced Gore as a "man of vision" and a "man of integrity," lauding him for his personal attributes and praising the current White House administration for its role in drastically reducing the deficit and reshaping the federal economy. "What Bill Clinton and Al Gore have done for this country has been nothing short of spectacular," Rendell said. Gore then stepped to the podium, delivering a 25-minute speech that emphasized the importance of economic stability, a strong public education system and stable lives for American families in the 21st century. Gore briefly discussed the nation's economy, explaining that the policies enacted under the Clinton administration have helped the "biggest deficit in history turn into the biggest surplus in history." "Our first priority must be to keep our prosperity going. I know how to do that," Gore said. But while the economic deficit has surely decreased, Gore noted, a new "family crisis" -- one in which the number of single parent families has quadrupled and parents are reportedly spending less time with their children -- is currently plaguing the nation. Gore then pledged an increased emphasis on education, stressing the need for smaller classes and a more modern curriculum. "We have textbooks all over the country today saying, 'Someday, Man will land on the moon,'" Gore said. "History's moving too fast for that. We can't afford that kind of sluggishness." And, as expected, the vice president's address occasionally alluded to various controversial topics, which are undoubtedly expected to factor heavily in the presidential race. He called for easier access to "high-quality health care" and criticized other politicians for failing to take a more adversarial approach to gun manufacturers. "While some are out there actually working to shield gun manufacturers from their actions, my priority is to shield American children from gun violence," Gore said. During the event, approximately 300 demonstrators protested outside the hotel in response to Gore's controversial stance in the AIDS drugs debate. Earlier in the day, at a campaign stop at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Gore outlined a proposal to increase federally funded cancer research and vowed to spend $200 million on an anti-smoking campaign. Other presidential candidates -- including Republicans Elizabeth Dole and George W. Bush and Democrat Bill Bradley -- have all visited Philadelphia over the past week to raise money.