CORNISH, N.H.--Vice President Al Gore '69 spoke to a crowd of almost 250 yesterday in an event that highlighted his dual role as vice president and presidential candidate.

At a farm in Cornish, N.H., Gore announced a federal grant of over $800,000 to aid the Connecticut River as part of the American Heritage River initiative--a program created in 1997 to provide federal funds to restore and preserve rivers of national significance.

Gore said that the most important thing about the American Heritage River Initiative is to bring people together for a common cause.

"The best way to renew a city is to reconnect it to the river," he said.

It's the Environment, Stupid

While Gore's trip here was part of an official vice-presidential visit, the presidential hopeful's speech made it the event seem much like a stop on the campaign trail.

The vice president was quick to take credit for the creation of the Initiative, pointing out that memories of his life growing up on a farm in Carthage, Tenn. led him to urge President Clinton to start the program.

Gore emphasized the importance he believes environmental issues play in society today, stressing the fact that it will take Democrats and Republicans working together to solve today's problems.

"I think the environment is an important issue for the American people, whether or not it is a political issue," Gore said.

Gore also emphasized the role that the government has played in promoting concern for environmental issues.

"The Connecticut River community has a vision of a river with clean running water, migrating salmon, many recreational uses with protected open lands, wildlife areas, paths and access for everyone," Gore said. "Today the federal government is providing funds to start making that vision a reality."

But in addressing other issues, from global warming to the Clean Water Act, Gore seems to be making the environment a central political issue in his campaign.

"We have to make the 21st century the time that we right the environmental wrongs of our past," Gore said. "That is the 21st century that I want to create."

Gore also made it clear that taking active measures to improve aspects of the environment will not adversely impact the economic prosperity that has been achieved since he and President Clinton took office in 1993.

"Environmental protection and economic growth are not mutually exclusive," Gore said, nothing the fact that the economy today is the strongest that it has been in US history.

The vice president was applauded for his commitment to the American Heritage River Initiative by Democratic New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, who presented Gore with a map of the Connecticut River Valley.

"We're fortunate that the Vice President is spending more and more time in New Hampshire," she said.

Gore will remain in New Hampshire until late tonight, and will meet with residents of Rochester, N.H. and attend a Democratic Beach Party