MICHAEL JORDAN will be featured in a 30-second TV ad
supporting Democratic Presidential candidate BILL BRADLEY
that will run in "25 big cities where Democratic primaries
will be held March 7," according to Connolly & Allen of the
WASHINGTON POST. The ad was filmed "just before Christmas
in Chicago," and will feature Jordan seated and looking into
the camera, saying that he "wants his children to grow up in
America where everyone has health care, guns are under
control, children are being lifted out of poverty and skin
color doesn't matter." Jordan then says, "That's why I'm
supporting Bill Bradley. Shouldn't you?" Connolly & Allen
report that VP AL GORE's campaign Chair TONY COELHO, "going
through" BET Chair ROBERT JOHNSON, tried to "prevent the
Jordan endorsement." Meanwhile, Bradley's campaign will
hold "several events keyed to the NBA All-Star Game in
Oakland" this weekend (WASHINGTON POST, 2/11). Bradley, on
the endorsement: "It will add to our campaign. I'm glad he
did it and I think that he is doing it because he wants to
declare what he's for. ... I think that he's a major force
in our country" ("Hardball," CNBC, 2/10). ABC's "GMA" and
NBC's "Today" show previewed the Jordan ad. Analyst George
Stephanopoulos: "This certainly will help Bill Bradley at
the margins. The Gore campaign seems a little bit worried.
They've trotted out Michael Jordan's mom to endorse Vice
President Gore" ("GMA," ABC, 2/11). NBC's Tim Russert said
Bradley is "hoping that the Jordan ad -- the uniqueness of
it, Michael's never done a political ad -- will bring
attention and focus to his campaign crusade" (NBC, 2/11).
Gore spokesperson CHRIS LEHANE: "We've got SHAQUILLE O'NEAL.
He's bigger" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/11)
