Al Gore interjected himself Wednesday into the death-penalty...

Al Gore interjected himself Wednesday into the death-penalty maelstrom surrounding Republican rival George W. Bush, saying a moratorium on executions is the right thing for states where criminal-justice errors abound. He used the example of Illinois, where Republican Gov. George Ryan has temporarily halted executions, citing 13 death row inmates in his state who were cleared since 1977. ''Any state that has that kind of horrible record ought to have a moratorium,'' Gore told reporters on his campaign plane. ''I do not have detailed knowledge of what the actual record is in Texas.'' It was the first time Gore, a supporter of the death sentence, has talked about the issue in such stark terms. Bush defended his state's legal system as ''fair and just'' on Wednesday and said he saw no need for a moratorium. ''As far as I'm concerned there has not been one innocent person executed since I've become governor,'' he told reporters. The governor said he analyzed each capital case that reached his desk to ensure fairness.