As the Iowa caucuses grow nearer, campaign drives in the Hawkeye state are beginning to heat up.

One candidate looking to stake his claim on Iowa voters is Vice President Al Gore, who, along with U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin [D-Iowa], U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell [D-Iowa] and other Gore supporters, held a rally Saturday on the south side of the Campanile.

After introductions, Gore began his passionately delivered speech to the crowd of about 600, condemning Republican ideologies and vociferously defending his stance on issues such as hate crimes and the budget surplus.

“On economics, the Republicans in the Senate and the House are trying to take the surplus and just blow it on a risky tax scheme that will put us right back into deficit again,” he said. Gore said he felt the money should be spent on Medicare and Social Security to “keep the prosperity going.”

Gore spent part of his speech reminiscing about his earlier years, when he was disenchanted with the political system.

“When I was your age, I was disillusioned with politics,” he said.

Recalling his seven years as a journalist at the Nashville Tennessean, Gore said he specifically asked not to cover government or politics. However, he credited journalism as a big reason for his change to political activism.

“As a reporter, I began to cover city hall in Nashville, and I began to see firsthand how men and women just like us rolled up their sleeves and wrestled with tough decisions, the outcome of which had a profound impact on the quality of lives for those who lived in that community,” he said.

He then quoted Ghandi in urging the audience to become political activists. “Ghandi said, ‘You must become the change you wish to see in the world,'” Gore said.

Gore also made a reference to his recent running of a marathon as to how one should approach politics.

“Many of you are getting involved in politics for the first time,” he said. “Make it a marathon.”

At one point, Gore lashed out at Texas Gov. George W. Bush about his stance on gun control.

“Gov. Bush says the gun manufacturers need more protection,” Gore said. “I think children and families need more protection.”