Gore-Bradley Debate Set

Vice President Al Gore and Bill Bradley have agreed to a nationally televised debate less than a week before the March primaries in California, New York, Ohio and at least 13 other states, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The 90-minute debate between the Democratic presidential contenders will be broadcast by CNN from the Times' downtown office on March 1. The voting six days later marks the single biggest day on the primary calendar.

The Times said that Bradley campaign chairman Douglas C. Berman sent a letter earlier this month to the Gore campaign listing the Times-CNN debate as one of three in which the candidate has agreed to participate. Gore's campaign then said he would participate.

"We will be there," a Gore aide said. The Times did not identify the aide.

The Bradley campaign's letter also said he has agreed to debate Gore early next year before the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

That debate will be a "town meeting" at Dartmouth University in Hanover, N.H., on Oct. 27. The men will answer questions from audience members.

Gore campaign chairman Tony Coelho on Tuesday challenged Bradley to appear at another New Hampshire forum on Nov. 4. There was no immediate response from Bradley's campaign, the Times said.