Ironically, one of the few black faces in the audience was Fletcher University Professor Cornel R. West '74, a Bradley backer.

Despite the leftish cast of the audience, Gore attacked Bradley for liberal proposals that he said would cost too much.

Gore told the crowd that Bradley's health care program would consume the entire federal budget surplus. On an unrelated question about education, he said that the Bradley plan would prevent new spending on schools.

That tack may play well in New Hampshire, one of the few states without an income tax and the home of former Republican senator Warren B. Rudman, a vehement budget hawk.

Gore's attacks contrasted with his defensiveness about character issues.

Well aware of polls that show voters fed up with President Clinton's personal scandals, Gore subtly distanced himself from his boss.

He gestured to his wife, Tipper, several times, praising her work on mental health issues.

In response to his first question of the evening, Gore directly addressed voters' disapproval of the President's character.