Bradley Takes Health Care Message to Latinos

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley appealed to California Latino voters Thursday by highlighting a key difference between his and rival Al Gore’s plans to provide health care for America’s poor.

Bradley said his sweeping $65-billion proposal--compared to Gore’s more modest version--would particularly benefit Latinos, who make up a disproportionate share of uninsured Americans. Nearly 40% of Latinos in California lack insurance, he said, compared with about 16% of Americans overall.

“When it comes to America’s health, this is not a time to be timid,” Bradley told an audience of about 75 medical professionals at the Latino Health Access clinic in Santa Ana. “This country has a long and proud history of doing what is right, of doing the big things well--even when they seemed unachievable.”

Bradley’s health care proposal, announced last month, is designed to reach almost all of the 44 million Americans without insurance. His plan would guarantee care for every American child and provide subsidized care for working poor adults.

Gore’s version seeks a more limited expansion of services to the same groups.

Bradley’s visit to Santa Ana, a growing Democratic stronghold in traditionally Republican Orange County, was his sole public event of a two-day trip through California. And despite a series of recent attacks by Gore, Bradley continued on the high road Thursday by avoiding any direct response or any mention of his rival’s name.

The heightened competition in the Democratic contest has raised the stakes for both candidates in California. Gore has a significant lead in the latest state polls and the endorsements of many key Democrats, including Gov. Gray Davis.

On Thursday, Bradley won the backing of state Sen. Jackie Speier (D-Daly City), who traveled to Orange County from her San Francisco-area district to introduce the former NBA star and offer her praise for an “American hero.”

“I was impressed with his health care proposal,” Speier said. “I am not interested in incrementalism.”