Kristin Gore predicts some Nader backers will switch back to her dad

Scott Sonner

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000 | 5:02 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Kristin Gore told Nevadans that their relatively few four electoral votes could sway the entire presidential election for her father, Democratic Vice President Al Gore.

She also predicted Wednesday that some Democratic Party defectors backing Green Party candidate Ralph Nader will return to their base and vote for Gore when they "realize how close this election is and what's at stake.

"It's very tight. In Nevada, it is a dead heat. Nevada could play the decisive role in this election," said Kristin Gore, 23, who works in Los Angeles as a screen writer for the Fox animated series "Futurama."

Although the same claim could be made about any of the remaining battleground states viewed as toss-ups, Republican vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney made a similar pitch in Reno last week, telling GOP faithful, "If we carry Nevada, we are going to win this election."

Nevada traditionally is conservative and votes Republican in presidential races, but President Clinton carried the state twice.

The vice president's daughter arrived in Nevada after campaigning with her father Tuesday in Oregon and California - two of the states where Nader's support is strongest.

She told reporters after a rally at the University of Nevada, Reno that she's not worried about the possibility Nader will take votes away from Gore and hand the election to Republican Gov. George W. Bush.

"I don't see that as a threat only because it's really wonderful when people who are so smart and active and passionate really get involved in issues they care about, like the environment and campaign reform," Kristin Gore said.

"When they realize how close this election is and what's at stake, there's no way they would want to be complicit in electing George Bush, who is so bad on the environment and campaign reform," she said.

"My dad has a wonderful environmental record. He's made it one of his top priorities. And he's said the first bill he wants to send to Congress is campaign finance reform."

Kristin Gore visited a Reno elementary school then spoke to a crowd of about 300 people at UNR along with other Nevada Democrats, including U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bernstein. About 50 more people crowded outside unable to fit in the conference room at UNR's College of Education.

"Kristin is here because she knows Nevada can determine the whole future of this country," Bernstein said.

In her speech, Kristin Gore emphasized the nation's economic success under the Clinton-Gore administration as well as the importance of abortion rights, environmental protection and education.

"We are definitely a lot better off than we were eight years ago," she said.

"There are 22 million new jobs - a workplace that kids are not scared to graduate into. That's different than it used to be," she said.

"We need someone who understands the problem of global warming. When I was 9 years old, I could tell you about greenhouse gases ...

"He's been working on it for 24 years and I've been hearing about it for 23 years."

Kristin Gore said she wishes people could get to know the lighter side of her father.

"You hear so many inaccurate perceptions and some of them do hurt when you're the kid," she said. "I can't tell you how many stiff and dull jokes I've heard about Al Gore.

"I know him as being real funny, loose and warm. When I'm with him, I'm constantly laughing. He has a real quick wit. He's a practical joker."

She remembers him cooking breakfast before school, helping with homework, even dressing up like a carrot to help out with a school play.

"He helped me memorize the Beatles' albums in chronological order," she told the UNR crowd, then later recited the list accurately for reporters.

She also recalls her father telling her of a favorite quotation from Ghandi:

"You must be the change you want to see in the world," Ms. Gore said. "I must admit when he told me that I had no idea what it meant because I was about 4-years-old."