Kemp, Gore: Different Routes, but Same Goal

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — Jack Kemp chose a belching bus, Al Gore a plane and an automobile. The transportation of choice for dueling campaigns across Tennessee.

The vice president didn’t hop onto a bus as his GOP counterpart did Wednesday. But Gore did kick off a four-day, 22-city bus tour featuring Democratic candidates running for state offices. Their battleship gray bus chugged out of an early morning Clinton-Gore rally in Blountville.

Meanwhile, Kemp and wife, Joanne, rolled into Sevierville on his bus, the Touchdown Express. Vendors sold T-shirts with a map of the day’s itinerary: Sevierville, Maryville, Athens, Cleveland and Chattanooga.

Outside a courthouse decorated with bales of hay, pumpkins and scarecrows, Kemp was joined by country music singer Lee Greenwood, who contributed his signature “God Bless the USA.”

Though their preferred modes of transportation differed, both vice presidential candidates had the same political goal: to firm up support for their respective tickets in a battleground state where polls have shown President Clinton with a slight lead over Republican challenger Bob Dole.

Winning his home state is a matter of personal pride, Gore said. “The stakes are very high this year” he told Tennessee voters.

The dueling campaigns also dovetailed with the first day of early voting in Tennessee. Until Oct. 31, Tennesseans have the option of voting by absentee ballot or in person.

Gore’s motorcade barreled into Hendersonville in the afternoon. Though he didn’t mention Kemp or Dole by name, he referred to their visits to the state. If voters see them on the road, Gore told the crowd, it will “be the first time and likely the last time.”

“Nobody has to point out Hendersonville to me on a map,” Gore said. “I know everything about Hendersonville.”

Gore said it’s a choice between a home-state boy like himself or his opponents “who come by and wave once in election time.”

Kemp kept the focus on Clinton’s character and trustworthiness.

“This administration shirks responsibility and takes responsibility for just about everything the Republican Congress has done,” said Kemp. “It’s shameless.”

Kemp’s third trip to Tennessee may be his most grueling--a five-city bus trek through mountains. He was ending the day in Chattanooga, watching the televised debate between Dole and Clinton.