Election 2000 briefs

July 23, 1999

Web posted at: 4:26 p.m. EDT (2026 GMT)

New Hampshire state GOP cancels straw poll

CONCORD, New Hampshire (July 23) -- The New Hampshire Republican Party decided to cancel its scheduled October 23 presidential straw poll and replace it with a family day event, said party chairman Steve Duprey Thursday night.

Denying speculation that the straw poll was cancelled because of GOP front-runner, George W. Bush's refusal to attend, Duprey said the family day is more in line with the style of the state's earliest-in-the-nation primary.

GOP fear that the straw poll might detract attention from the state's primary was the main reason behind the cancellation. "We're at a stage in the life cycle of this primary that we can't afford to do anything that might jeopardize it," Duprey said.

Gore points to rivers as environment-economic link

CORNISH, New Hampshire (July 23) -- Using the Connecticut River as an example, Vice President Al Gore showed Thursday how environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand.

In a speech on the bank of the river, Gore praised the communities for aiding the effort to clean the river and preserve it for future generations. Before his speech, the presidential candidate went canoeing with a fellow Democrat, New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.

The event celebrated the river's designation as one of the 14 waterways as American Heritage Rivers, qualifying it for special federal money. Gore said $819,000 had been earmarked for various projects related to the river.