While campaigning in Huntington, W.

Saturday, November 04, 2000

While campaigning in Huntington, W.Va., Saturday, Vice President Al Gore also addressed school, wage and other issues, suggesting they would become his number one priority.

"The classrooms are overcrowded and teachers are overloaded," he said. "I believe we need to change that and allow students to have the opportunity for one-on-one help if they need it. I believe we need to have a national accountability for schools."

He also briefly addressed minimum wage issues and said, "It’s time to raise the minimum wage $1 per hour. I’ll fight for it and it’s time to take medical decisions away from HMOs and give them back to the doctors, nurses and medical professionals."

Gore also touched on expanding research for clean coal technology and suggested "the environment is far too important" for expanding oil drilling in the United States.

"I will be a president for the working people," he told the crowd. "My opponent says he wants to get along with everyone in Washington and we do need less partisanship but, sometimes, the president has to say ‘no’ to the special interest groups. My opponent is relying on them right now. I am relying on the voting people because when they vote, they have a bigger voice."

And before closing his speech, the candidate warned spectators that "this election would be a tight race."

"John F. Kennedy came here 40 years ago and you listened and made history," Gore said. "He won the 1960 election by virtually one vote per precinct this election may be even closer than that one. It may be a long night Tuesday, but it’ll be a nice morning on Wednesday."