Gore Campaign Bolstered by Sierra Club’s Backing

NEW YORK — Vice President Al Gore touted the backing of a big environmental group Sunday, seeking to “reach out to the new opportunities”’ to protect air and water.

Leaders of the Sierra Club dismissed suggestions that Gore’s commitment to the environment has waned since he wrote “Earth in the Balance” and said endorsing Gore was easy.

“We did an exhaustive survey of our chapters and our members,” said Debbie Sease, a spokeswoman for the Sierra Club. “Our members have full confidence in the vice president.”

The 600,000-member environmental group formally issues its endorsement of Gore today, when its leader, Robert Cox, campaigns with Gore in the key battleground states of Michigan and Ohio. But Gore was going out of his way to underscore the issue in campaign events Sunday.

In a speech to be delivered accepting the endorsement, Gore claimed the environmental high ground.

“I’ve been criticized for my unyielding commitment to safeguard the environment,” said Gore’s speech, which he planned to deliver to environmental activists with Sierra Club leaders at his side. “I’ve been criticized for my call to end the silent rising tide of global warming that could threaten our health, our economy and our whole way of life.”

The environment is an important issue in several key states.

Some polls have suggested that Green Party nominee Ralph Nader drains support from Gore. And some environmentalists have said they are suspicious of Gore’s commitment to the environment. That drain is most significant in such states as Michigan and California.

Gore’s only public appearances Sunday were brief speeches at fund-raising events, including one organized by Indian Americans in Scotch Plains, N.J. He also was spending time visiting his grandchild in New York before heading to Michigan for events today.

The campaign planned a photo-friendly event on the banks of a river in Grand Rapids to formally unveil the environmental group’s backing.