1.   Gore also used his appearance to position himself against congressional Republicans, with whom Bush has often been allied.

2.   Gore also used his Atlantic City speech to discuss his own proposal for keeping the Social Security system solvent.

3.   Gore also used the fund-raiser to highlight his supremacy in the en dorsement game.

4.   Gore used his final weeks of commercials to begin a broader approach, while Bush and McCain have battled primarily for Republican votes.

5.   Gore used his Seattle trip to unveil a remodeled presidential campaign, shedding his formal reputation for a down-home atmosphere.

6.   Gore used it last August, but skeptical Democrats argue that it only rallied his base and did not expand his support.

7.   Gore used to be a smart guy.

8.   Gore uses these debates to examine all sides of an issue, even though he often knows in advance what his position will be.

9.   Gore also used a question on terrorism to embrace a Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

10.   Gore is using the events to shore up his support among key constituencies in the South, an electoral firewall against gains by former Sen. Bill Bradley.