BILL BRADLEY: Nets Endorsements from Three Congressmen

      Citing his bold health care reform plan, three lawmakers, Reps. Pete Stark (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) threw their support behind Bill Bradley's bid for the White House yesterday, the Scripps-McClatchy Western Service/Nando Times reports. Endorsements from members of Congress are crucial since they are automatic delegates at the Democratic National Convention (Doyle, 12/8). McDermott, a physician from Seattle, based his decision on Bradley's views on health care, stating, "Bill Bradley's bold statement that no child in this country should be without health insurance is long overdue" (Nelson, Seattle Times, 12/7). He added, "We've put a Band-Aid on the program one after another. What we need is someone who understands that not everybody is making it in this society and who is willing to go out and say we have to fix it for them, too." Stark, who spent a decade as chair of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on health, defended Bradley's plan to replace Medicaid with insurance subsidies (Sobieraj, AP/Nando Times, 12/8). "Bill Bradley has put forward a big solution to one of the biggest problems facing Americans today. Mr. Bradley is the only candidate who's been willing to say this is a problem we must address ... realizing there's a cost involved" (Freedman, Albany Times Union, 12/8). Meanwhile, Vice President Al Gore continued his assault on the Bradley plan, arguing that it is "too expensive and incapable of providing adequate coverage to low-income people" (Seelye/Dao, New York Times, 12/8).

Adding to the Defense
      Further bolstering his health care plan, Bradley launched two new ad campaigns yesterday in Iowa and New Hampshire. "We insure children from birth. We provide tax relief for working families that have to pay premiums. We make available affordable health care for all Americans," states the ad that is slated to air this week in New Hampshire and Boston (National Journal Group, 12/8). The 30-second ads feature Bradley answering questions posed in town meetings in both New Hampshire and Iowa (New York Times, 12/8). To view the ad airing in New Hampshire and Boston, click here. To view the ad running in Iowa, click here. To view the ad, you will need RealPlayer G2.