WATERLOO
With Election Day less than 24 hours away, Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, began their last day of campaigning in Waterloo this morning as part of his get-out-to-vote effort.
Gore and his entourage arrived in Waterloo a little after midnight for a big political rally at Livingston Hangar at the Waterloo Municipal Airport.
Hundreds of people turned out at the late hour to cheer on the Democratic candidate for president.
"I just love Iowa," Gore said to the cheering crowd. "This journey we are taking on your behalf really began right here in the state of Iowa and today it's come all the way back to Iowa on the last day of campaigning."
The vice president seemed pleasantly surprised by the turnout. He said he did not have any notion there would be such a good crowd.
"We thought there would be couple of dozen people around here," the vice president said. "What your presence shows me is that we are going to win Iowa."
Terming this race a historic one in terms of how close it is, he told the crowd to save some energy to get out the vote; to take neighbors to the polls and convince undecided voters to vote Democratic.
"This race is the closest at least in 40 years, since John Kennedy beat Richard Nixon," Gore said. "I need you to get me one more vote in your precinct."
Gore said the race may be even closer than the Nixon-Kennedy race.
"This race may be tied," Gore said.
Despite what the pollsters and pundits say, Gore said he has a feeling voters are moving in his direction. He called for changes in the Freedom to Farm law, a higher minimum wage and higher wages for women. It is time to give back medical decisions to doctors, Gore said, treat teachers as professionals and balance the budget so the surplus is not squandered giving tax breaks to the wealthy.
The Democratic presidential candidate also touched upon prescription drugs, Supreme Court appointments and campaign finance reform.
"You can go toward the old Bush-Quayle type of policy or go forward and extend the prosperity," Gore said.
He urged the voters to use both their heads and their hearts to make their decision.
"In a close race like this, your feeling, passion, dedication and commitment will make all the difference," he said.
He said there will be consequences if the voters did not make the right decision.
"You will tell your grandkids about this race," Gore said. "The time when Iowa had the decision in the palm of their hands and you had the ability to affect Iowa's decision. The time when you decided that you will turn Iowa in the right direction and thereby turn America in the right direction."
Earlier the crowd was addressed by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Gov. Tom Vilsack.
"I like Gore's position on education," said Jane Scol, a University of Northern Iowa student. "I want to become a teacher and his stance on teachers has influenced my decision and I am going to vote for him."
"It (Gore's speech) was really inspiring," said Sherri Gabbard. "I am amazed at how alive he is when you always get to hear that he is straight and dead."
Gabbard, a kindergarten teacher, said it was worth losing sleep to see Gore.
Ella Love, a lab assistant at John Deere, agreed.
"I am really excited and I pray and hope that Gore wins," she said. "I have heard him speak before he became the vice president and have never stopped liking him. I have seen more happiness in last eight years than ever before and I will vote for him."
Sean Holzinger, who came from Cedar Rapids to listen to the vice president, quipped, "I think he has hit a home run here tonight."
Others, however, like Beth Reid, a UNI student, were disappointed with the vice president's speech.
"His speech was poor," Reid said. "I had already made up my mind about Bush, but just wanted to see what he had to say."
Reid likes Bush's proposals on education and Social Security better than Gore's.
