Clinton Urges Americans to Support Al Gore, Lieberman

President Clinton previewed Saturday urged Americans to support for the presidential ticket of Al Gore and Joe Lieberman, saying they would ensure all Americans share in prosperity.

"The reason I want Al Gore and Joe Lieberman to win this election is, I know they'll keep the prosperity going. I know they 'll keep us moving into the future, but most important of all, they'll make sure we all go along for the ride," Clinton said at a fund-raiser for Democratic US Representative Xavier Becerra of California.

It was Clinton's first in a string of glittering fundraisers, tributes and schmooze sessions with Hollywood stars and Democrats ahead of the party's national convention which begins Monday.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Clinton would use his appearances in Los Angeles ahead of the convention to fine-tune his speech Monday evening, which is likely to be his last major political address before a wide audience.

Clinton called for a civil but vigorous election debate. "We've had enough of the politics of personal destruction, but we'll never get enough of the politics of honest debate over differences, " he said.

He accused Republicans of failing to disclose the specifics of their policy agenda in Philadelphia earlier this month and said major differences existed over tax policy, gun control, health care, Social Security and Medicare.

The president praised Lieberman, Gore's running mate, despite the Connecticut US senator's early and sharp criticisms of the president over the Monica Lewinsky affair.

"I've known Joe Lieberman for 30 years. He helped me develop a lot of the ideas that I brought to the '92 campaign that we implemented, and he deserves your support. In every way you will be more than pleased," Clinton said.

Referring to Gore, he said, "This is a guy that I know will do what he thinks is right. He will look to the long-term interests of the country and he has the right economic program to keep the prosperity going and to extend its benefits to the people who are still left behind."



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