"We need tough, uncompromising campaign finance reform," Gore said.

He challenged the Republican nominee to ban unrestricted soft money donations, 30- and 60-second television and radio commercials and to have a debate with him every week until the election.

For Bradley supporters, it was a disappointing night.

By mid-evening on the East Coast, the Associated Press delegate tally showed Gore with 975 of the 2,170 needed to win the nomination at the Democratic National Convention this summer in Los Angeles. Bradley had 284.

"He won, I lost," Bradley said simply in his concession speech.

Still, Bradley said his campaign marked "the beginning of a new politics in this country" and added that his efforts have steered the campaign towards issues such as health care, the poor, and race.

"Tonight we're a step closer [to a country] in which no family has to fear being one step away from financial disaster because their children get sick," Bradley said.

He added that his efforts to bring back idealism and honor to politics are not over.