A former south Wales councillor is playing an influential role in the US election campaign of Vice President Al Gore.

Media consultant Steve Morgan - a former Maesteg councillor - is advising Mr Gore on his fight to win the Democratic nomination.

Mr Morgan runs a political consultancy practice, Morgan Allen Moore with bases in Cardiff, London and Washington.

He has been involved in Labour's general election campaigns since 1979, although this is his first taste of the powerful US presidential elections.

His main job in the Gore camp is to co-ordinate foreign media coverage.

Mr Morgan feels that British coverage of Gore has been off the mark, concentrating too much on whether he "smoked dope".

The real issue to focus on , he said, is the strong US economy which is what Americans are interested in.

The Welshman studied politics and philosophy at Cardiff University and then became vice president of the NUS, before moving to London.