NEWARK, New Jersey (AllPolitics, December 5) -- The upcoming presidential race has heated up with former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley's announcement that he is exploring the possibility of running for president in 2000.

Former Sen. Bill Bradley greets supporters

Bradley said Friday he has created a presidential exploratory committee.

The New Jersey Democrat says he wants to "help unleash the enormous potential of the American people."

Bradley notified the Federal Election Commission (FEC) of his plans, though election law does not require exploratory committees to register with the commission. In a letter to the commission, Bradley said he was filing because of his "commitment to campaign finance disclosure."

"What clinched it for me was this kind of thing," Bradley said Friday as he walked into an employee recognition luncheon at a Newark community center. "I believe in the kind of leadership that doesn't stand in the spotlight, but the kind of leadership that calls attention to millions of Americans whose actions shine every day."

The Bill Bradley Presidential Exploratory Committee was formed for the purpose of "testing the waters," Bradley said in his letter to the FEC.

His committee is clearly a sign Bradley is getting into the race and it will allow him to gauge the depth of his support and his ability to raise money.

Bradley

"I can't conceive of anything that would derail me at this stage," Bradley told reporters.

Bradley said he wants to address problems of the country such as too many poor children, too many people without health insurance and too many parents working multiple jobs to make ends meet. He said he believes the country has the energy and resources to deal with "that deeper agenda."

"This will not be a campaign that is related to the past; it will be a campaign that is related to the future," he said.

When asked about his plans to go to Iowa as a first-time presidential candidate, Bradley told a story of his first trip to Iowa as an 11-year-old boy. He was on a Little League baseball team playing in the regional finals, but after hitting the ball he failed to keep his foot on first base and was tagged out. His team lost the game by one run. Bradley said "ever since that time, I always wanted to go back to Iowa and win one."

Asked about Vice President Al Gore's front-runner status, Bradley said, "This is not about Vice President Gore and me. This is about telling the country what I believe."

Gore had no immediate comment on Bradley's announcement. The former senator called Gore Friday to inform the vice president of his plans. Gore aides say the conversation was cordial and courteous.

Gore, who is expected to announce his candidacy in early 1999, remains the favorite for the nomination, but other potential candidates are emerging. House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri, Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone and now Bradley are among those who may challenge the vice president for the nomination.

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll in late October of 499 Democrats showed Gore the choice of 41 percent, followed by Bradley with 15 percent and Gephardt with 14 percent. The survey had a margin of sampling error of +/- 5 percentage points.

Bradley's committee will be overseen by Douglas Berman as chairman and Gina Glantz as manager. Berman is a longtime associate who managed Bradley's campaign for re-election to the Senate in 1984. Glantz is the owner of the national consulting firm of Martin & Glantz LLC. Ed Turlington, former chief of staff to North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt and Bradley's coordinator for the past two years, will serve as deputy for politics.

Bradley also considered presidential runs in 1988 and 1992, but wrote in his autobiography he decided not to run because of fear of failure and concern for his privacy and that of his family.

The 55-year-old is a former Rhodes scholar, All-American basketball player at Princeton and later a star with the New York Knicks. He was first elected to the Senate in 1978 and served three terms before leaving in 1996.

He has spent the last two years lecturing, working with civic groups and consulting on Wall Street. Most recently he has concluded a nationwide book tour to promote his latest work, "Values of the Game."

CNN's Carin Dessauer and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Friday, December 4, 1998

• Bradley sets the stage for 2000 presidential bid
• Espy: Independent counsel law needs 'substantial' reform
• House ethics committee moves ahead on Rep. Shuster probe
• Ashcroft sets date for presidential announcement
• Clinton calls for another minimum wage increase
• Clinton's lawyers ask for several days to make their case
• Court documents shed light on legal fights in Lewinsky case
• Israeli Knesset gives Sen. D'Amato award
• Clinton to attend ex-aide's funeral
• Another battle brewing over campaign finance laws
• Mrs. Dole's fans want her to run for president
• Oregonians light up as medical marijuana law takes effect

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