Gore: Don't let 'other side' wreck the economy that Clinton fixed

President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore greet a Monroe, Michigan, crowd before a symbolic handover of the Democratic Party leadership

From staff and wire reports

MONROE, Michigan -- In a small, blue-collar Michigan town where the economy has improved during the past eight years, Al Gore credited President Clinton with rebuilding the country's economic foundation and vowed not to "let the other side wreck it."

Clinton, appearing with the vice president, praised Gore as the man with the experience to lead the country to even better times.

The president said Gore was at the heart of "every good thing" that came out of their administration.

VIDEO CNN's Jonathan Karl describes the Democratic strategy for Gore's candidacy Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   IN-DEPTH COVERAGE NEWS Democratic conventioneers dismiss new Lewinsky grand jury (8-17-00) Police tactics draw criticism outside convention hall (8-16-00) Lieberman recounts 'only in America' story (8-17-00) VIDEO View live video of the Democratic National Convention while in session and highlights of CNN coverage. 360° IMAGES Get a 360° view of the convention hall ANALYSIS Stuart Rothenberg: Gore's challenge is not to lose in Los Angeles Time.com/James Poniewozik: Joseph in the technicolor dream factory BACKGROUND Democratic convention at a glance Interactive convention history More coverage

"He has been a leader for the new economy, a leader for welfare reform, a leader for education, a leader for lowering the crime rates," Clinton said.

In a brief speech, Gore used the word "fight" at least 10 times, saying he would resist special interests and work hard for a raft of his own proposals.

"If you entrust me with the presidency, I will fight for you," he said.

Gore cast the election in basic terms.

"The question is whether we turn back to the failed ways of the old guard or move forward with purpose and pride," he said.

People lined up five deep along a route stretching for nearly a mile leading to the square where the president and vice president appeared along with their wives, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tipper Gore.

Clinton came to the town south of Detroit to yield the political stage to the man he wants to succeed him.

After the speeches, as Gore stayed to shake hands with onlookers, Clinton headed to McDonald's, where he ate a chicken sandwich, fries and a soda.

Monroe is in a swing county of mostly blue-collar Democrats and independents. That is a group likely to decide the election in hotly contested Michigan, which voted for the Reagan-Bush ticket in the 1980s and Clinton-Gore in the 1990s.

Clinton and Gore courted conservative "Reagan Democrats" in Michigan in 1992 with a pledge to turn the economy around.

During their speeches in front of Monroe City Hall, the two emphasized their accomplishments during eight years in office. In 1992, the area had a jobless rate of 8.8 percent, they pointed out. The figure is now 2.2 percent.

Monday night, Gore said the joint appearance was to be "a symbolic message that's more important than most of the words we'll be using." Gore made the remark at a St. Louis hotel, where he and running mate Joe Lieberman and their wives watched Clinton's speech on television. "It's a hand-off, a passing of the torch," Gore said.

"It's taking place in a key state, a state that turned around under the policies that we pursued for the past eight years -- a state that we hope will do even better in the Gore-Lieberman administration," the vice president said.

Gore is stumping through a series of battleground states on his way to Los Angeles, where convention delegates will formally select him as the Democratic presidential nominee Wednesday night.

At the convention finale, he will accept the nomination Thursday night.

Lieberman is due to arrive in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

While Democrats have the political spotlight this week, their Republican opponent in the November 7 presidential election is keeping a low profile. Texas Gov. George W. Bush temporarily suspended active campaigning Sunday.

But the Bush camp was paying attention to Gore's events. One aide tweaked the vice president, noting that the site of the symbolic torch passing was once the home to one of the nation's most celebrated defeated military leaders.

"As the birthplace of Gen. George Armstrong Custer, we are curious if this will be Al Gore's last stand as well," said Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett.

CNN Correspondent Jonathan Karl, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Tuesday, August 15, 2000

• Caroline Kennedy says Al Gore can continue her father's 'New Frontier'
  
• What to look for Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention
  
• Dem convention speakers hone their rhetoric for fall campaigns
  
• Lieberman defends civil rights record
  
• Convention keynote speakers aren't what they used to be
  
• At convention, Democratic heavyweights flex muscles for Gore
  
• Gore: Don't let 'other side' wreck the economy that Clinton fixed
  
• Stuart Rothenberg: The First Family of the Democratic Party
  
• Bruce Morton: On 'Camelot' night, Gore sees another president's shadow
  
• The Politics Junkie
  
• Clinton's ardent farewell is a love note to America
  
• Tucker Carlson: Unsurprisingly, Clinton focused on himself
  
• latimes.com: Can Clintonism survive without Clinton?
  
• Monday night at the convention: The Big Sleep
  
• Bill Bradley gets convention spotlight tonight
  
• Lance Morrow: Among white men, Gore needs to pick up good vibrations
  
• Democrats give Hillary roaring sendoff
  
• Police defend use of pepper spray, rubber bullets at Democratic Convention protest
  
• Thousands take to the streets outside Democratic convention
  
• Clinton touts success, boosts Gore in nostalgic farewell to Democratic convention
  
• What to look for Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention
  
• Convention opens to protests, rubber bullets