America's CHOICE.

• Position: Presidential candidates for 2000

WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT? CHECK OUT THESE NINE HOPEFUL CANDIDATES AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF.

DEMOCRAT

Al Gore

AGE: 51

HOME: Washington, D.C.

CURRENT JOB: Vice President (1993-present)

EXPERIENCE: U.S. Representative (1977-85), Senator (1985-93)

FAMILY: Wife, Tipper; four children

THE SCOOP: Gore is both blessed and cursed with being Vice President-blessed with name recognition and support from Democratic Party leaders, but cursed too: aside from George Bush in 1988, no sitting Vice President has won the Presidency since Martin Van Buren in 1836.

As Vice President, Gore has supported measures to protect the environment and increase government efficiency. He advocates using the federal budget surplus to buttress Social Security and Medicare, two popular benefit programs for the elderly and the disabled that face potential financial troubles. He touts the Clinton administration's record on the economy, while distancing himself from the scandals that marred that administration.

But Gore has been attacked for his role in campaign fundraising during the 1996 Presidential campaign. Although he was not charged with any violations of campaign finance laws, critics say he raised money that came indirectly from the Chinese government in an effort to influence U.S. policy toward China.

The son of a Iongtime Senator from Tennessee, Gore served in the Vietnam War and worked as a newspaper reporter in Nashville before running for a House seat in 1976.

REPUBLICAN

George W. Bush

AGE: 53

HOME: Austin, Texas

CURRENT JOB: Texas Governor (1995-present)

EXPERIENCE: Oil executive, investor

FAMILY: Wife, Laura; two children

THE SCOOP: Bush is the only candidate who can ask his father (George Bush) what it was like to be President. He's also the clear front-runner in the Republican field.

Bush was thought to have virtually locked up the Republican nomination even before he announced his candidacy. He had raised far more money than anyone else--more than $60 million--and had nailed down commitments from leading Republican supporters way ahead of anyone else. Yet opinion polls show that he now faces a serious challenge from Sen. John McCain.

Bush describes his ideas as "compassionate conservatism" -- conservative principles tempered by concern for minorities and the poor. As Texas Governor, he has been tough on crime and pro-business, yet he opposed tax-cut plans by Congressional Republicans that would have slashed social programs. He is credited with improving...