Democratic White House hopeful, Al Gore, declaring himself "not satisfied" with historic prosperity, will urge US voters tomorrow to help him win the presidency to build a "better, fairer, more prosperous America."
"There are big choices ahead, and our whole future is at stake," he said in remarks prepared for delivery, which were distributed to reporters ahead of the most crucial speech of the Vice President's life. "I ask for your support on the basis of the better, fairer, more prosperous America we can build together," he said.
"For all of our good times, I am not satisfied," said Gore, who trails his Republican rival, Texas Governor George W Bush, in the fight to replace President Bill Clinton in the November election.
The Democratic Party has formally nominated Vice President Al Gore as its official candidate in November's election. At the National Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, Mr Gore was given the 2,170 votes he needed for nomination. He made a surprise appearance on stage, breaking with tradition by appearing before the fourth day. Senator Joe Lieberman, the keynote speaker on the convention's third day, thanked Mr Gore for choosing him as his running mate.
Outside the Convention, police again fired tear gas at demonstrators during a rally of around 2,500 people, as they clashed in the streets. Police also used their night-sticks to beat some people and rubber bullets were used again, as lines of black-clad protesters confronted lines of police in riot gear. Organisers had called for a march to protest against alleged police brutality, following confrontations and arrests on the first night of the convention.
Police arrested about 30 activists earlier as they staged a sit-in at the Rampart police station. The confrontation came after a march by about 600 protesters from a nearby park. Protesters shouted "No justice, no peace, no racist police!" and some, wearing white gags, sat in front of the station's entrance. As police arrested them for blocking a public building, demonstrators went limp. Officers then carried them into the station.
A spokesman for the police said that 116 demonstrators had been arrested during the first two days of the convention. In a related development, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Los Angeles Police Department for "targeting members of the media" during Monday night's clashes at a free rock concert near the convention site. An ACLU spokesman said that there was "police brutality" in the police action. However, the LAPD said that the department's response was "measured, strategic, and appropriate."
