Interview with Al Gore

DETROIT (CNS) -- Vice President Al Gore said he sees hope for "common ground" on abortion at the grass-roots level and said the effort should be respected and empowered.

In a wide-ranging 25-minute interview with

Oct. 14, Gore also said he is against a moratorium on the death penalty in federal cases until more evidence shows it is warranted.

Gore also discussed whether he would sign a ban on partial-birth abortions. He said some people on both sides of the issue are more interested in maintaining conflict than in accepting wording that he said would make enacting and signing such a ban possible.

Gore, the Democratic nominee for president, also discussed his opposition to voucher programs that bring tax money to parochial schools, as well as his support for expanding partnerships between the federal government and faith-based organizations and for improving how the United States treats immigrants.

The interview came as Gore was en route to the Detroit airport to return to Washington after a campaign stop. While in Detroit, he rallied several thousand union supporters at Wayne State University.

Gore said he sees a burgeoning grass-roots movement seeking common ground on abortion.

"The truth is, the vast majority of those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice actually agree that certain common-sense steps should be taken to reduce the number of abortions by reducing the number of times women feel like they're in a situation of such anguish that they have to contemplate that choice," he said.

By talking with participants in that movement, he said, he knows "there are ways to sharply reduce the number of times a woman ever expresses a desire for an abortion by reducing the number of situations that lead to it."

Gore added that the number of abortions has declined in the last eight years, and "that's a good thing."

Gore said his willingness to sign a law banning partial-birth abortion -- provided it allows exceptions when the life or health of the mother is endangered -- is one thing that should be considered by people who agree with him on most other issues but hesitate to vote for him because of his record of support for legal abortion.

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