With only 16 days remaining before Iowans head to the first-in-the-nation caucus to cast votes for their candidates, Democratic presidential contenders Al Gore and Bill Bradley held a debate Saturday in Johnston.

The vice president and the former New Jersey senator sparred over health care and farming issues while responding to questions from readers of The Des Moines Register, which were posed by moderator and Register Editor Dennis Ryerson.

Gore criticized Bradley’s ideas on universal health care, saying that it would take away funding for Medicare, which helps senior citizens manage medical costs.

“For 18 years in the U.S. Senate, I fought to protect Medicare,” Bradley responded. “I will always do that.”

Bradley’s proposed plan would also replace the current Medicaid program and insure low-income Americans.

Agriculture was a hot topic during the debates, as both Gore and Bradley attempted to appeal to Iowans.

Gore pointed out Bradley’s senate record includes votes against financial aid for struggling farmers. Gore said Bradley also opposed emergency aid for farmers after the 1993 floods, as well as funding for further development of ethanol.

Bradley responded by asking farmers if they are any better off now than they were seven years ago.

“You can talk about the past, but I want to talk about the future,” he said.

Gore challenged Bradley to weekly debates and suggested the two return to Iowa to continue the discussion on agricultural policy. The vice president made a similar challenge at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, a Democratic fund-raiser held in Des Moines last October.

Debate-viewing parties were held throughout the state because of the limited audience space at the public television station.

Liz Dinnen, freshman in psychology and Spanish, watched the debates at the Mariott Hotel in downtown Des Moines.

Dinnen said the debate seemed low-key and subdued compared to past encounters between the two candidates.

“I feel like [Bradley] is a really great person with really great values, but Al Gore is a much better leader,” she said. “He has had eight years being in on the action, and Bradley hasn’t had that experience.”

Despite Gore’s experience in the White House, Dinnen said she will probably be casting her caucus vote for Bradley.

“I thought Bradley’s ideas on agriculture and education were more appealing to me personally,” she said.

A poll released Saturday has Gore with a 21 percent lead over Bradley in Iowa. The Des Moines Register poll showed Gore with 54 percent of the support from the 501 registered Democratic voters surveyed who said they would definitely or probably be taking part in the Jan. 24 caucus.

Thirty-three percent sided with Bradley, and 13 percent remain undecided.