Bradley also called Gore the "Co-opt Kid, " referring to a prescription drug plan for seniors the vice president unveiled yesterday that closely resembles a plan Bradley proposed last year.

CNN: Gore campaign bites back

Gore has been sharply criticized by Bradley, Bradley's backers and media newspaper editorial writers for his characterization of Bradley's plan for universal health insurance.

CNN: Manchester newspaper gives Bradley a near-endorsement

Both want to increase public spending on pre-school programmes and on health care, though Mr Bradley's plan would, as Mr Gore constantly points out, be more expensive than Mr Gore's.

ECONOMIST: The Democratic race: Nasty isn’t nice | The

At Dartmouth, when Gore attacked Bradley's health-care plan as too costly (citing a supposedly "nonpartisan" study written by his former adviser), Bradley scarcely seemed to care.

CNN: Please don't leave me, don't you go

He also criticized Bradley's universal health care plan as too costly and inefficient.

CNN: By Brad Leighton/The Telegraph of Nashua, New Hampshire