Declaring "my focus is on working families," Al Gore accepted the Democratic nomination for U.S. president at the party's Los Angeles Convention last month. Union members made up 30 percent of the 5,000 delegates.

"Workers and their families know first-hand that eight years of Clinton-Gore haven't been enough to repair the damage caused by 12 years of Reagan and Bush," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "They know that our booming economy needs more time to lift up the small boats that have been left behind, and they know Al Gore is the man who can finish the job."

With Michigan as a key battleground state in the November presidential election, Gore and President Clinton made a point of coming to Michigan during the convention to campaign. The appearance by both Gore and Clinton was a formal way of driving home the point that reins of the party are being handed over to Gore, as the president left the gathering in order to let the Veep have the spotlight.

"The things that have happened in the last eight years, the good things, are nothing compared to what can happen in the next eight years," President Clinton said before he left.

Gore, who received a big boost in the polls by his speech at the convention - bringing him into a virtual tie with George W. Bush - told the Monroe crowd, "I know we've got a hard-fought race ahead. I know the powerful interests are going to fight against us with everything they've got. If you entrust me with the presidency, I will fight for you."

Both Gore and GOP presidential candidate George W. are expected to spend the lion's share of their time in the next two months campaigning in the key battleground states of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri.

"The building trades in Michigan can hold the key to the election," said Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney. "The 100,000 building trades workers represent about 3 percent of the vote in Michigan - and if everyone gets out and votes, and votes for Gore, that's enough to swing the election."

During his convention speech, Gore mentioned a union member, Mildred Nystel of Iowa, who is a member of IBEW Local 288. Gore said she wants her daughter to go to college, "and I say to her: I will fight for a targeted, affordable tax cut to help working families save and pay for college."

The vice president touted the administration's record, including the nation's lowest inflation in a generation, the creation of 22 million new jobs, and the fight for universal health care.

"As Americans we all share in the privilege and challenge of building a more perfect union," Gore said in his acceptance speech. "I know my own imperfections. I know that sometimes people say I'm too serious, that I talk too much substance and policy. Maybe I've done that tonight.

"But the Presidency is more than a popularity contest. It's a day-by-day fight for people. Sometimes, you have to choose to do what's difficult or unpopular. Sometimes, you have to be willing to spend your popularity in order to pick the hard right over the easy wrong."