(NEW ORLEANS, LA) -- Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore (news - web sites) got an unusual -- and probably unwelcome -- endorsement at a trade gathering for the Internet adult entertainment industry when a key speaker declared the Democrats a stronger advocate of free-speech rights than the Republicans.

Predicting a more supportive climate for free speech under a Gore administration, Attorney Paul Cambria, who specializes in First Amendment issues, called on operators of X-rated Web sites to use their sites to promote Gore's candidacy.

``I urge you all to use the powers that you have because this is the first election where the Web can make a vast difference,'' Cambria told the IA2000 conference in New Orleans, the nation's largest adult Internet trade show.

Citing a more tolerant attitude to the adult entertainment industry under President Clinton (news - web sites) than during the Republican administrations of George Bush and Ronald Reagan, Cambria said the industry can reasonably expect more of the same under Gore.

``The big message from the Gore camp has been that there should be no control over the content of speech, but control over access to the speech by individuals who are underage,'' Cambria said Friday.

Because X-rated Web sites represent such a lucrative part of the adult entertainment industry, Cambria said they could come under fire if Republican candidate George W. Bush (news - web sites) is elected and heeds calls from conservative groups for a crackdown.

``If the wrong candidate is elected, the Web will come under the most severe scrutiny as far as criminal law is concerned,'' he said.