Gore fights for his life in US Pacific Northwest

Gore fights for his life in US Pacific Northwest
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

SEATTLE, OCT 24: Al Gore is fighting a political battle in a place he never expected, struggling to hold on to two US Pacific Northwest states that supporters were certain he would easily carry in his race for the White House. Gore's rival Republican George W Bush is putting up a stiff fight in both Washington and Oregon, but Gore also faces a surprisingly vigorous threat from Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

Considered crucial in Gore's bid for the presidency, Washington state has voted Democrat in the last three elections. But Bush has refused to cede the state, and neighboring Oregon is also up for grabs. The Vice-President was back here for the 17th time in the campaign on Monday. "The Pacific Northwest is a key battleground," Bush spokesman Ken Lisaius said. "This is the first time since 1984 the Republican candidate is running even, or a little over."

"We think we can win it," he said. Washington and Oregon are bursting with prosperity, and have been in Democratic columns so long it would seem neither candidate would have to spend much time in the area.

But Gore has lost considerable ground with liberals supporting Nader, while Bush is doing well, with conservatives angry at President Bill Clinton's environmental policies.

Standing in front of a backdrop of Mount Rainier during his visit, Gore told some 4,000 supporters that he'd "fight to protect the environment with my heart and soul." Washington's two senators -- conservative Republican Slade Gorton and liberal Democrat Patty Murray -- are symbolic of the souls of both states.

In each state, the rainy coastal urban areas of Seattle, Tacoma and Portland are progressive, while the arid, rural eastern inland areas lean conservative. Local television barraged viewers with ads specifically tailored to the region. Some 6,000 TV spots have already aired in Seattle -- second only to the number aired in Philadelphia.

Aside from Nader, the two states are tossups for other reasons, according to political scientist David Olsen of the University of Washington. "In 1992, Bill Clinton beat Bush by six percentage points and Dole in 1996 by eight points," Olsen says. "That's just about what Nader's pulling."

The Greens need five per cent of the vote nationally to get federal campaign matching funds. "We're trying to make sure that the Democrats are listening to progressives and to make the Green Party viable," says Green Party spokesman Trevor Griffey. "This is crucial to getting our message out." Most observers believe Nader will draw votes from Gore.

The Northwest's total of 18 electoral college votes will be crucial in a national race that's too close to call. However, Democrats hope that Nader's threat will go soft as voters are about to cast their ballots. "When they see this is close, we think those voters will come home," Democratic State Chairman Paul Berendt said.

Bush's message resonates inland, where water and cheap power are vital. Washington state farmers and ranchers are fuming about federal proposals to remove, or "breach" four dams on the Snake River to save endangered salmon. During his eight visits here, Bush has vowed to keep the dams and kept the pressure on, forcing Gore to spend more time here than he ever intended. "Let me be clear on this," Bush said last week. "If George W Bush becomes President, the dams will not be breached."

Gore has not taken a stand on the dams, instead proposing a "Salmon Summit", similar to Clinton's 1993 Forestry Summit. Gore's position of more study and science won't win him many votes in eastern Washington State, and may cost him votes among western urbanites, where Nader's forces are pounding him for what they see as his environmental backpedaling. Bush is likely to make another visit before the November 7 election. His running mate, Dick Cheney, is scheduled to campaign in Spokane on Tuesday.