Bradley, Young in ‘Pulpit Stumping’ Tour of the North

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Bradley and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young took to intense “pulpit stumping” here Sunday, seeking to use the traditional political activism of the black church to draw more votes for Bradley in next month’s election.

Young, the longtime civil rights activist who also is a minister, joined the Los Angeles mayor in most of his seven appearances before congregations and support groups here and in the nearby cities of Richmond and Berkeley. In the course of five hours Sunday morning, Bradley and Young spoke to more than 2,000 people.

Young, who came to California this past weekend to campaign for Bradley, told the audiences that the state gubernatorial election “is of national and international impact.”

Leadership ‘Up for Grabs’

With President Reagan completing his last term and the possibility of a Democratic takeover of the U.S. Senate, Young said, Bradley’s election as governor would be a sign that “the whole question of national leadership” is “up for grabs.” As governor of the nation’s most populous state, Young said, Bradley could “establish an agenda not only for California but for all of us.”

Bradley, appearing more animated and relaxed than usual, made repeated pleas to receptive audiences to pray for him and to “put legs on those prayers.”

His repeated references to faith and perseverance apparently were aimed at persuading supporters that they can still propel him to victory, despite a discouraging recent California Poll that showed the Los Angeles mayor 15 percentage points behind Republican Gov. George Deukmejian.