Bradley Aims For White House
Bill Bradley has been taking his shots since the '60s as an All-American at Princeton, and as an NBA champion with the New York Knicks for ten years. Now the question is, what kind of a shot does old number 24 have against Al Gore? CBS News Correspondent Phil Jones reports.
"I think I have a very good shot," Bradley said.
On the stump in New Hampshire, Bradley, who also played politics for 18 years as U.S. senator from New Jersey, is finding disgruntled Democrats who are looking for an alternative to Gore.
"I'm not sure I trust what Gore says," said voter Mendon McDonald.
Trust is the theme of every Bradley speech.
"I think one of the key things here is trust. And by that I mean trust in the president as an individual. And whether rightly or wrongly, we have to repair that trust," Bradley told New Hampshire voters.
Bradley is avoiding stands on all the tough issues until this fall, so those coming out to see him are left with vague answers to their questions - like how's he different than Al Gore.
"I've had a more varied life experience," Bradley said.
When asked about the meaning of that statement, Bradley said: "I had a life before politics."
Bradley is doing it the old New Hampshire way, retail politics - house to house. He says there has never been a better time in American history to run for president and that he can taste it in his mouth.
"You got to look people in the eye. They gotta listen to you and they either ratify you and support you, or they don't," Bradley said.
In New Hampshire and across the nation, Bradley is way behind Gore in the polls - and in money. But he has reported more than $4 million in donations, while refusing special interest PAC money and his followers claim stories of a Bradley boomlet are right.
"There is a Bradley movement. We'll push him over the top. I can taste it just like Bradley can," said Bradley booster Jerry Slagle.
Bradley knows he must win the nation's first primary next March - or abandon his presidential dreams.
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