 Bradley ran in the 2000 presidential primaries , opposing incumbent Vice President Al Gore for his party 's nomination . Bradley campaigned as the liberal alternative to Gore , taking positions to the left of Gore on a number of issues , including universal health care , gun control , and campaign finance reform . On the issue of taxes , Bradley trumpeted his sponsorship of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 , which had significantly cut tax rates while abolishing dozens of loopholes . He voiced his belief that the best possible tax code would be one with low rates and no loopholes , but he refused to rule out the idea of raising taxes to pay for his health care program , calling the idea of such a pledge " dishonest " . 
