Monday, Sep. 25, 2000

Campaign Pledge Drive: Week 16

By Val Castronovo, Matt Cooper, Daren Fonda, Barry Hillenbrand, Belinda Luscombe, Ben Nugent, Julie Rawe, Eric Roston, Chia-ying Tsai, Josh Tyrangiel

FEELING THE HEAT While Gore tried to take the lead on education, Bush forayed into Democratic territory, talking conservation in the Northwest and diversity in California. But it was Gore's thermometer that seemed to reflect the temperature in L.A.; Bush's pledge meter is still stuck somewhere near Cleveland.

BUSH 56

--To spend $4.9 billion on national parks in disrepair

--To restore salmon runs

--To "welcome all cultures"

--To work with Hollywood to "come out with a better product"

--To restore "trust" in the presidency

Gore 84

--To make college and skills training available for all ages

--To provide health care for poor parents

--To provide tax credits to employers for worker training

--To ask Hollywood to show "good citizenship" in marketing to kids

The fine print: totals reflect pledges and proposals made beginning the week of May 29, 2000, when we first began tracking. This survey is not scientific.