[Islam-Online- Europe]

Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore cut loose from Bill Clinton and drew sharp distinctions with his Republican rival George W. Bush, declaring himself "my own man" while showcasing his softer side to the American people.

Trailing Republican George W. Bush in most opinion polls, Gore strove to energize core supporters while winning over the independent and centrist votes who generally decide U.S. elections -- and who seem to favor the Texas governor. "I pledge to you tonight, I will work for you every day, and I will never let you down," said President Bill Clinton's designated successor.

Accepting the Democratic presidential nod, Gore hitched his campaign to the racing U.S. economy he stands to inherit from Clinton, but spoke of his mentor only once -- and announced: "Now we turn the page and write a new chapter."

The candidate, who sought to reintroduce himself to American voters many of whom, after nearly eight years in the White House, see him as a wooden technocrat, focused much of his speech on how his family has shaped him.

"I want you to know me for who I truly am," he said. "My parents taught me that the real values in life aren't material, but spiritual," said Gore, who paid tribute to his mother as she beamed from the audience, flanked by the candidate's widowed brother-in-law, Frank Hunger.

Before Gore spoke, his wife Tipper also worked to soften his image, showing a series of family photographs, starting from their meeting as teenagers, telling the crowd she wanted them "to know that as a husband, father and grandfather Al has always been there for our family, and he will always be there for your family."

Family also played a key role as Gore struck a frequently populist tone and sought to contrast himself to Bush by spotlighting average Americans whom his policies -- increasing elderly access to prescription drugs, renovating and reforming schools, and extending health insurance to all U.S. children -- would benefit.

"That's the difference in this election. They're for the powerful. We're for the people ... big tobacco, big oil, the big polluters, the pharmaceutical companies, the HMOs, sometimes you have to be willing to stand up and say no, so families can have a better life," he said.

Instead of cutting them a bigger piece of the pie through reduced taxes, Gore pledged to step up spending on education, health care, the environment, job training, and other issues atop voters' agendas ahead of the November 7 election.

"I've learned that the issues before us, the problems and the policies all have names," Gore said, listing the attending families' last names.

"That was excellent: drawing his pizzazz from the people, highlighting his mastery of the policies while getting his passion, style and verve from them," said Allan Lichtman, a presidential politics specialist at American University in Washington.

"That was the most effective device in the speech," said Eric Davis, a political science professor at Middlebury College in Vermont. But while overall "Gore didn't lose any ground, I don't think he closed the gap."

Davis stressed that Gore should have done more to emphasize issues that appeal to moderates and independents, like abortion rights and gun control, even if his promise to push campaign finance reform helped him with those voters.

And Davis, who invited about 25 students and faculty to watch the speech, said Gore "needed to spend more time on the leadership question," because while voters tend to agree with him on the issues, they like Bush better as a leader.

But Lichtman disagreed: "He had to humanize himself, and he had to draw contrasts with Republicans. He managed to do both in one speech ... most Americans will like this speech."