Bradley Tells House Liberals His Campaign Won’t Go Negative
House liberals said Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley told them Friday he won’t engage in a “bloodletting” negative campaign against Vice President Al Gore.
Bradley also picked up an endorsement from Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), only the third House member to publicly back the former New Jersey senator. Three Senate Democrats have also endorsed Bradley.
“It takes courage and leadership to step forward and support my campaign,” Bradley said.
He told a closed-door meeting of about 20 members of the House Progressive Caucus that he thought personal attacks were ineffective and would hurt the Democratic Party, participants said.
In addition, Bradley said he believes his poll numbers rose in Iowa earlier this month after he declined to fight back when Gore accused him of quitting Congress just when Democrats needed him most.
DeGette, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Rep. William O. Lipinski (D-Ill.) are the House members publicly supporting Bradley.
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