BOSTON--After floating into Boston Harbor on a ferry Wednesday, Al Gore '69 touted his plans for higher education to a crowd that included hundreds of Harvard students.

Gore and his running mate Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) did not visit the heavily Democratic state principally to win votes--Gore later attended a lucrative fundraiser.

But the early evening event, which was open to the public, clearly energized both the crowd and the two candidates.

"All of us here this evening are prepared to be your foot soldiers in this battle," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.) before he introduced Lieberman.

After spending the morning addressing a high school history class in Lewiston, Maine, Gore's speech at the Long Wharf in Boston stuck with education as its main theme.

Attempting to further distinguish his tax plan from that of Republican challenger Gov. George W. Bush, Gore expressed support for targeted tax cuts for families with children in college, as well as grants and scholarship programs.

"Every young person in this country who wants to go to college ought to be able to, regardless of family income," he said. He added that too many students leave college burdened with debt.

The crowd--which had been warmed up by Harvard College Democrats President Marc Stad '01--welcomed Gore back to his college town with a sea of campaign signs, some from Harvard.