[Bill Hemmer, Cnn Anchor:] Let's go back to Carol in New Hampshire, the vice president now. I think we've got the gremlins worked out now Carol.
[Carol Lin, Cnn Anchor:] All right. Well, you always have to worry about gremlins here on the campaign trail, especially in New Hampshire, where things could get very unpredictable. We're going to go back to Connie's Kitchen in Hudson, New Hampshire, to see if we can connect with the vice president. Mr. Vice President, can you hear me?
[Al Gore, Vice President Of The United States:] I can, Carol. Good morning.
[Lin:] Oh, good morning. I was just wondering if you thought the coffee there was as good and as strong as your finish in Iowa.
[Gore:] Well, it's good, it's strong, and I'm very grateful to the people of Iowa for the surprisingly-large victory last night. But you know, even as it even as the sun comes up here I'm campaigning in Hudson, New Hampshire, at Connie's Kitchen and concentrating on the primary a week from today.
[Lin:] Well, I understand, Mr. Vice President, that your strategy is now shifting in New Hampshire, talking more about the economy?
[Gore:] No, it's the same message all across the country, and yes, the economy is a big part of it. I think we need to keep our prosperity going, but I also think we need to make some sweeping changes by bringing revolutionary improvements to our public schools and expanding healthcare to all Americans in a step-by-step way, starting with health care for every child within this presidential term.
[Lin:] Well, it's hard to ignore the economy in New Hampshire since the state has done pretty well, and many people here talk about the Clinton effect in creating jobs and in creating developments here. Are you going to be asking the president to campaign for you? He did pretty well here in New Hampshire.
[Gore:] Well, I have to win this on my own, and before this campaign is over with no doubt that he will be helping me on the campaign trail. But I'm campaigning about the future and what we are going to do in 2001, and for the last seven years I have worked alongside the president in helping to bring a big change to New Hampshire's economy you're right about that. Whereas New Hampshire was losing 10,000 jobs a year eight years ago, now New Hampshire is gaining 16,000 jobs a year. We went from the worst recession since the 1930s to the strongest economy in the history of our country. And the formula that has produced that change and progress is one that I'm advocating.
[Lin:] And it's a formula that both you and the president came up with, so why not just ask President Clinton to come up here? All we're hearing out of the White House is that he's more than happy to help you.
[Gore:] Oh, well, he has been helping, and of course he's giving his State of the Union Address, this week, and it's not as if he doesn't have a full-time job.
[Lin:] At the same time, Vice President, the Bradley campaign clearly very disappointed about results out of Iowa, and they are now promising a much more aggressive campaign. Are you expecting the senator to go negative?
[Gore:] Well, they've been telling people that, but, you know, I don't think the people of New Hampshire want that, expect that or really have any desire to go through that. But you know, I'm just I won't respond in kind if he if he continues negative attacks. I'm going to focus on the issues, and I think that's what people want. We should be talking about our future, not launching personal attacks.
[Lin:] So does your offer to debate twice a week with Bradley still stand then?
[Gore:] Absolutely. And in fact, we're going to have a debate tomorrow night.
[Lin:] All right, well, we'll see you there. CNN is carrying that live. Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President, for joining us.
[Gore:] Thank you, Carol.