LOS ANGELES — The aggressive, accusatory tone Bill Bradley has adopted in the Democratic presidential contest against Al Gore was missing from their latest debate. Aides said it was done to show leadership, but it also played into Gore's strategy of appearing presidential.
"Tonight on a national stage we wanted to show leadership — authentic, dignified, spontaneous, unprogrammed," Bradley spokesman Eric Hauser said after Wednesday's debate. "When voters are making final decisions, that's what they look for. Bill Bradley's virtues came through."
Gore offered pleasantries like, "I think Bill made a good point," but said he took nothing for granted.
"I do think that the elections this coming Tuesday will likely be decisive for the nomination," Gore said afterward on CNN, which broadcast the debate nationally. Gore leads in the public opinion polls in the 15 states with Democratic contests next Tuesday and the debate was Bradley's finale in California, the most critical of those states.
"Clearly, I have to win several," Bradley told CNN.
After a post-debate party, Gore boarded an overnight flight to New York, to be followed by visits to Maryland, Florida, Georgia and Massachusetts.
Bradley also flew east after the debate to campaign in New York, Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island. His campaign has virtually given up on California, where polls show Gore with a massive lead.
Bradley also will lay out his case in an unusual five-minute ad airing nationwide tonight.
Throughout much of the 90-minute debate, the Democratic rivals reacted in striking contrast to their earlier sharp encounters. Bradley was remarkably subdued after months spent accusing Gore of lying about his own record as well as Bradley's proposals.
"I heard Mr. Gore say I agree, I agree, I agree," said Martha Escutia, a California state senator who supports Bradley. She said the debate showed Bradley is the real leader on Democratic issues.
But Gore campaign chairman Tony Coelho said that, by agreeing often with each other, the pair showed their determination to beat the eventual Republican nominee.
"I think there was an elevation to the debate tonight that was healthy for Democrats," he said.
In one point of disagreement, however, Bradley said the Clinton administration's failure to act to release oil reserves led to soaring gasoline prices. Gore said using the reserves hasn't been ruled out, but advocated quiet pressure to get more OPEC oil flowing.
Another flare-up occurred when Bradley accused Gore, as he had before, of voting in favor of preserving a tax exemption for then-segregated Bob Jones University in South Carolina. Gov. George W. Bush has been under constant criticism for speaking there last month. Gore said the vote involved racial quotas, which he opposes.
Bush and Alan Keyes were to be in Los Angeles for a debate Thursday night while McCain planned to appear via satellite from St. Louis.
In prior debates, Gore and Bradley argued angrily. In this one, Bradley passed up opportunities to attack on some of the very issues he had hammered before.
For example, Bradley, who had demanded that Gore explain his involvement in 1996 fund-raising excesses to ward of Republican attacks on the issue, said he is for fundamental reform, including the public financing of elections. "I think there's no more important issue," he said.
"I agree with Bill Bradley and John McCain on the need for campaign finance reform," Gore said. He said that as president he would "put this in the highest priority and make it happen."
The candidates concurred on issue after issue, from opposition to gay marriage to racial profiling to gun control and the need for Supreme Court nominees supportive of abortion rights.
Asked by a panelist whether he needs a miracle to beat Gore, Bradley said he wouldn't buy the premise, although he's lost the four Democratic primary contests held so far. He said only 250,000 people have voted for delegates so far, and that 8.5 million will vote next Tuesday.
"That is the day that we will have a national primary and that is the day that I think you have to take off," Bradley said. "I'm looking at next Tuesday as the takeoff day for me."
Minutes before the debate, the Rev. Jesse Jackson endorsed Gore, and subtly suggested that the rancorous Democratic campaign come to a close.
"At some point, we have to fold our tent and create a bigger tent," Jackson said.