Former Clinton Cabinet member endorses Bradley November 15, 1999 Web posted at: 5:41 p.m. EST (2241 GMT) CONCORD, New Hampshire -- Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley picked up the endorsement of a former Clinton-Gore cabinet member Monday, the same day he formally registered for the New Hampshire primary ballot. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich   Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich endorsed Bradley during an appearance with him at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, saying the Clinton Administration got the national economy back on track but that the issues of health care and poverty were left unfinished. "It was not easy for me to decide to come up here and publicly support Bill Bradley. It wasn't easy because I have worked very closely with Vice President Al Gore ... and I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Al Gore," Reich told an assembly of mostly college students. "I have absolutely no doubt that were he (Gore) elected, he would make an excellent president, but given the challenges ahead, Bill Bradley's commitment, his dedication, and his vision make him to my mind an even better president," he said. Bradley said Reich's decision to back him over Gore "shows that he's man who thinks for himself, and I think that it shows that he's a man who believes I'd be the best president for this country in the next four years. That's what I believe and I'm glad we agree." The Gore campaign had different take.
		Bradley signs his filing papers Monday

"I hope this means Mr. Reich will educate Senator Bradley's team on Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security -- all programs that Bradley's agenda threatens to dismantle, imperil or change," said Gore spokesman Chris Lehane.

Bradley, a former three-term senator from New Jersey, is the lone challenger to Gore for the Democratic nomination, who has the support of most of the party apparatus. But Bradley has gained momentum in the past several months, forcing Gore to face the challenge head-on.

Reich served as Secretary of Labor during President Bill Clinton's first term and was considered a liberal voice in an administration that courted centrist voters. But Reich, a long-time friend of the president, has been critical of him since he left the administration.

When he left in 1997, Reich gave a speech titled "The Unfinished Agenda," saying the administration's next economic task should be to help bridge the growing gap between the rich and poor. That theme also coincides with Bradley's campaign.

Reich also recently wrote in The Nation magazine that Clinton "wasn't bold enough or consistent enough; he seemed to compromise and weasel too much." Reich also said that Clinton has abandoned his ideas when they were met with opposition, including universal health care, which was supposed to be the highlight of his presidency.

Reich is joining Bradley's campaign as the former senator's proposed health care plan is under attack from Gore.

Bradley has proposed eliminating Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor, and replacing it with publicly subsidized vouchers to buy private health insurance. As labor secretary, Reich opposed Republican efforts to turn Medicaid money over to states.

Before the announcement of Reich's endorsement, Bradley visited the state Capitol in Concord to turn in the one-page form and $1,000 fee that will place his name on the ballot for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary February 1. Bradley also is expected to air his first round of television ads this week.

"By the time we get to February 1, people will know who I am, what I believe, what I'm for, and what I would like to do if I were president," Bradley said.

Bradley wore a new necktie emblazoned with multicolored outlines of New Hampshire. He sign a copy of the state capitol's souvenir "Notice to Voters" with the words "respect the people."

Tipper Gore, who turned in her husband's paperwork before a crush of news cameras last week, had signed it, "The fun starts here. New Hampshire rocks."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Monday, November 15, 1999

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