Rejuvenated Gore relishes campaign spotlight

KEOKUK, Iowa (CNN) -- Flying high from last week's successful convention and subsequent boost in the polls, Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore told CNN that "it feels much more natural" to be campaigning atop his party's ticket rather than in the No. 2 spot.

Gore tells CNN's John King he steadfastly opposes efforts to raise the retirement age under the Medicare program above 65

In an exclusive interview with CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King while on a post-convention campaign swing through the Midwest, the vice president also took aim at Republican rival George W. Bush's tax-cut and Social Security privatization plans, but insisted that he would set a bipartisan tone in Washington if elected to the White House.

New surveys suggest the race between Gore and the Texas governor has tightened since last week's gathering in Los Angeles. A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, taken Friday and Saturday, showed Gore running even with Bush, who was leading by 16 percentage just before the Democratic convention.

"I don't think the polls matter much, (although) I'm tempted to change my view now that they show me ahead," Gore quipped during a campaign stop in Illinois. Gore and running mate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut were wrapping up their post-convention tour, a four-day paddleboat and bus journey down a 400-mile stretch of the Mississippi river.

"But Joe Lieberman and I are concentrating on talking to people here in the heartland," he said. "This is a wonderful trip. We have been enjoying the huge crowds and enthusiastic responses on both sides of the river in these communities."

Gore is also visibly enjoying campaigning "as my own man," a theme he introduced to the American public during last week's nomination speech.

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Vice President Al Gore is interviewed by CNN White House Correspondent John King Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

"As vice president, that is an honorable way to serve your country," Gore said. "Strengthening the hand of the president, it is an inherently No. 2 position ... but now I'm speaking in my own voice and offering my own vision, campaigning as my own man. It feels much more natural and I'm enjoying it a lot more."

During stops in three states on Monday, a hoarse Gore hammered home on familiar stump themes with renewed vigor. He has advocated targeted tax cuts aimed at helping middle-class families pay for child care, elder care and college tuition, and blasted Bush's across-the-board tax reduction plan, estimated to cost 1.3 trillion over ten years.

"I don't think the best choice is to give a giant tax cut for the wealthy," Gore told CNN. "Instead, we should balance the budget, continue paying down the debt, keep our economy strong and give tax cuts to middle-class families."

Gore has followed up on last-week's well-received nomination acceptance speech by striking a populist chord during his tour down the Mississippi. Gore has taken particular aim at major oil companies and drug conglomerates opposed to Democratic proposals to offer prescription drug coverage for seniors under Medicare.

"I do think the fact that drug industry profits are highest of any industry at a time when seniors are really being pressured to pay the bills for prescription medicine and charged a higher price than anyone else is a relevant issue," Gore told King.

"What we need is more competition to stimulate better and healthier business activities that stimulate more research and development and not just plow the profits into advertising and promotion ... I favor a prescription drug benefit for seniors under the Medicare program and more competition to bring the price of prescription drug medications down," Gore said.

Republicans have made much noise about policy differences between Gore and Lieberman, who has taken a more conservative stance on private school vouchers, and has also considered proposals to partially privatize Social Security and raise the retirement age under the Medicare program above 65. Gore said he will steadfastly opposes efforts to raise the age.

"I've ruled that out for this simple reason: Waitresses carrying trays, steel workers in the winter cold. No matter the fact that average life spans are increasing, the wear and tear on the body for people in hard physical labor jobs is the same."