Though he is a fellow Harvard graduate and a party elder, Kennedy's endorsement of Gore was not always a sure bet. Kennedy's positions on the issues, particularly on health insurance coverage and poverty, are more in line with the views Bradley has promoted.

Also, Kennedy has criticized the Clinton administration's welfare reform efforts. In a December forum with Boston Globe editors, Kennedy hinted that he had not yet made up his mind who to endorse. But Gore's campaign and Democratic Party officials aggressively lobbied the senator to endorse the vice president before the Feb. 1 New Hampshire primary.

The Globe reported Tuesday that the campaign and the Massachusetts senator's staff held negotiations on just how to make the endorsement effective. Kennedy has endorsed the party's favored candidate before, including an enthusiastic nod for Michael Dukakis' presidential bid in 1988. He endorsed Clinton in 1992 and 1996.

Later Wednesday, Kennedy campaigned with Gore in Portsmouth, N.H. a few hours before the candidate engaged in his fourth debate of the primary season with Bradley just a short hop away in Manchester.

That debate focused on health care, and the candidates traded barbs on whose plan would insure more Americans.

Gore mentioned Kennedy's endorsement in the context of promoting his plan.

Bradley and Gore will also debate in Des Moines, Iowa this Sunday.

Their final debate before the Feb. 1 primary is on Jan 26. New Hampshire voters who are not registered with either major political party can vote for any candidate they wish.