Rare Pledge By McCain, Bradley

In New Hampshire Thursday, it was a case of presidential politics making strange bedfellows: a Republican, John McCain, and a Democrat, Bill Bradley, signed a pledge not to allow use of big corporate, unregulated money if they become the nominees.

The Arizona senator and former New Jersey senator signed a statement before their unusual joint appearance, saying: "We pledge that as the nominees for the office of president of the United States we will not allow our political parties to spend soft money for our presidential campaigns, and we commit to working together toward genuine campaign finance reform."

McCain, reports CBS News Correspondent Phil Jones, was scathing against Democrats.

"The scandal of 1996 was not Monica Lewinsky," he said. "The scandal was the debasement of the institution of government by the Clinton-Gore campaign. The president of the United States rented out the Lincoln bedroom. He rented it out like Motel 6 and he was the bellhop."

And Democrat Bradley focused on George W. Bush.

"I personally think that the governor of Texas will demonstrate that you can raise too much money in politics," he said.

Vice President Gore was clearly worried about today's event. He bought a full-page ad in the local newspaper claiming he's been fighting for reform for a long time, and saying campaign reform will be at the top of his agenda if he's elected president.

That brought a cynical response from Bradley: "So if today he is for banning soft money and will take a similar pledge, I welcome that. I'm glad he's finally come around."

It was only four and a half years ago, at this same site in Claremont, that President Clinton and then-Speaker Newt Gingrich also shook hands and promised campaign finance reform in response to a question from a local citizen, Frank Mac Connell. It never happened, and Mac Connel has since died.

Joan Mac Connell, Frank's widow says "he was very disappointed because he felt that a handshake meant a lot."

Both Bradley and McCain denied this was just another campaign stunt that would only fuel cynicism around the nation, as well as here in Claremont, where there's already a memorial bench marking the sight of the last historic unfulfilled political promise.