BOSTON--After floating into Boston Harbor on a ferry Wednesday, Al Gore '69 touted his plans for higher education to a crowd that included hundreds of Harvard students.

Gore and his running mate Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) did not visit the heavily Democratic state principally to win votes--Gore later attended a lucrative fundraiser.

But the early evening event, which was open to the public, clearly energized both the crowd and the two candidates.

"All of us here this evening are prepared to be your foot soldiers in this battle," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.) before he introduced Lieberman.

After spending the morning addressing a high school history class in Lewiston, Maine, Gore's speech at the Long Wharf in Boston stuck with education as its main theme.

Attempting to further distinguish his tax plan from that of Republican challenger Gov. George W. Bush, Gore expressed support for targeted tax cuts for families with children in college, as well as grants and scholarship programs.

"Every young person in this country who wants to go to college ought to be able to, regardless of family income," he said. He added that too many students leave college burdened with debt.

The crowd--which had been warmed up by Harvard College Democrats President Marc Stad '01--welcomed Gore back to his college town with a sea of campaign signs, some from Harvard.

"Looking out on all these great signs, I saw one that said, 'Mower for Gore,' and that was my freshman dormitory," the vice president told the crowd.

While most of the speech drew strong support from the crowd, a small group of demonstrators positioned behind the press area briefly disrupted the rally.

Gore had to pause after thanking Kennedy for his opening remarks when the protest group began chanting, "Al Gore's a corporate puppet." But they were quickly drowned out by cheers of "Go, Al, Go" by supporters.

Gore regained control of the crowd, saying loudly, "Let's hear it for the first amendment! Let's hear it for freedom of speech!"

"As soon as I try to say something nice about Ted Kennedy, a demonstration starts," Gore quipped once the crowd had quieted. "He's really a polarizing figure."

After focusing on education, Gore and Lieberman discussed issues from social security reform to health care to economic policy.

Lieberman pledged to shy away from personal attacks while differentiating the Democratic ticket from the Republican challengers.

"We are going to talk about their records and we are going to talk about their ideas, because there are two very different visions here of America's future and of America's past," he said.

Gore criticized the Republican ticket for questioning whether the country was in better economic shape now than before the Clinton-Gore administration took office.

But he said that the voters should not decide their vote based on the past eight years.

"We have made progress, but this election is not a reward for past performance," Gore said. "I'm asking for your vote on the basis of the better stronger, fairer economy we're going to create together."

The vice president finished his speech by putting a local spin on a line from his Democratic National Convention speech.

"If I am entrusted with the presidency, I will not always be the most exciting politician--like [Boston Mayor] Tom Menino--but I will work hard for you every day and I will never let you down," Gore said. Menino, who is known as a colorful politician, was on stage with the vice president.

The College Democrats gave out nearly 500 tickets to the speech at the first-year activities fair on Monday, drawing a large group of first-years.

Alexis C. Madrigal '04, who held a cardboard sign reading "Mower Supports Gore," said he was impressed by Gore's speech.

"I think he addressed all of the issues that Democrats feel are important,'" Madrigal said. "He was a lot more inspirational than people would expect Gore to be. He was really fiery."

Harvard Students for Gore Coordinator Marcie B. Bianco '02 said she was glad to see all of the first-years at the event, even though Massachusetts is not a battleground state.

"I think it was good to get the freshmen there," Bianco said. "Even though he's going to win Massachusetts hands down, you just have to have some kind of spirit out there."

Gore will next return to Boston on Oct. 3, where he and Bush will participate in the first presidential debate of the campaign.