Gore postpones trip to Minnesota until Friday

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Vice President Al Gore canceled a visit to a Minnesota high school today because he may be called on to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate, his presidential campaign said.

Campaign spokeswoman Julie Green said late Wednesday that Gore plans to arrive in Minnesota on Friday night and stay until Saturday.

''The vice president has been asked to return to Washington so he can be on hand in case he's needed in the Senate,'' Green said at about 10 p.m. from Nashville, Tenn.

Gore had been scheduled to arrive at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday.

He was to have appeared at Eagan High School this morning with former Vice President Walter Mondale to discuss education issues. The scheduling change means Gore probably will not be able to visit the school, Green said. The school had spent more than 50 hours this week alone preparing to the event.

''We understand his responsibilities,'' Principal Thomas Wilson said. ''Needless to say, we are disappointed. But ... the invitation and our doors are still wide open.''

Green said Gore will likely arrive late Friday night and make a public appearance Saturday morning. Details were to be made available today, she said.

Gore has gained Mondale's backing in part because of his call to ban large soft-money contributions. ''It has become pretty clear that (campaign-finance overhaul) is an issue that concerns most Americans,'' Mondale said.