Make or break for Bush, Gore

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

BOSTON, OCT. 2. The countdown for the November 7 Presidential election truly gets under way when the first of the three debates between the main contenders is held on Tuesday night. In normal circumstances, the argument would have been that the debates did not matter as the voters had already made up their mind. But in the current situation with both the major party candidates virtually in a dead heat, the debates are seen as crucial.

The rehearsals and the mock debates are over and the candidates are coming to this city. Over the weekend, both Mr. George Bush and Mr. Al Gore would have gone through much material that some past candidates, in retrospect, wish they had skipped. ``If I had to do it again, I would not go through so much of that rehearsal stuff. I think it took away from my spontaneity,'' said Mr. Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic nominee who fumbled in his debate with the Texas Governor's father, the elder Mr. George Bush.

Several prominent politicians, who have run for the Presidency in the past, complained about the briefing books, especially after they had faltered or relied excessively on the stack of papers prepared meticulously by their advisors. Even a communications veteran like the former President, Mr. Ronald Reagan took a swipe at his ``overdone'' briefings. And the former Senate Majority Leader, Mr. Robert Dole, when criticised for his assertion in 1976 that all wars of the 20th century were ``Democrat wars'' pointed to the briefing papers. ``That was in the briefing book...I guess I should have exercised my own judgment,'' Mr. Dole said in retrospect.

Several Presidential debates televised over the last 40 years remain etched in public memory - a perspiring Richard Nixon taking on John Kennedy in 1960, the now famous ``There you go again'' statement of Mr. Ronald Reagan against his Democratic opponent, Mr. Jimmy Carter and the Vice-Presidential candidate, Mr. Dan Quayle, overwhelmed by the former Treasury Secretary, Mr. Lloyd Bentsen, came up with the stinging, ``Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy''.

This time around, there is much speculation on how Mr. Bush and Mr. Gore are going to face off on three rounds starting Tuesday and continuing over a two-week period. As expected, both the candidates are playing themselves down by talking highly of the other, obviously a ploy against any big expectations. Some quarters have tried to portray the upcoming debate as being loaded in favour of Mr. Gore. The argument is that the Vice- President is solid on facts, has a good head for numbers and has a clear idea of the kind of policies his administration will take on foreign and domestic issues. Further, from an experience point of view, Mr. Gore ``has been there'' in similar settings - having gone through the Vice-Presidential debates in 1992 and 1996.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Tories to soften stand on immigration?
Next     : Khaleda vows to form 'nationalist govt.'