In a Contrary State, an Underdog Has His Day

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Speaking from the heart is easy with the election months away and no one demanding specifics. But so far the underdog is clearly having more fun, coming from behind in a two-man race. (While Gore is stuck in the polls, Bradley has picked up 14 points since early March--and he raised $3 million just last week). But it's too soon to think about winners and losers. For now, it's enough that someone in the race hasn't taken a poll, that someone spends his time talking about "seeing the goodness in your neighbor" and "making connections" and "feeling less lonely, less isolated, less fearful." If it sounds as if he's running for pastor rather than President, at times you can almost feel it working. At a spaghetti dinner in Keene, a fifth-grader named Leeanne Hamel stood and sang the national anthem. Her voice was sweet and clear, but she had trouble with the high notes, and her confidence broke. Bradley's voice came in to help, and then others, until finally the whole place was singing, led by Leeanne. When it was over, everyone cheered. The only smile bigger than Bradley's belonged to the young girl. That might not get him anywhere near the White House, but it counts for more than any political speech I've heard this year.