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Novak Syndicated columnist Robert Novak is co-host of CNN's "Evans Novak, Hunt & Shields," as well as "Crossfire." He is providing exclusive election analysis for CNN.com.

Robert Novak: No clear winners or losers in debate

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Al Gore did what he had to do at Wake Forest Wednesday: he looked much less condescending and obnoxious than he had in the first debate in Boston eight days earlier. But in the process, he disarmed himself by abandoning the aggressiveness and combativeness that is the hallmark of his political style. It's a little like home run king Mark McGwire stepping up to the plate without a bat.

George W. Bush did what he had to do Wednesday night: he discussed foreign policy for the first 42 minutes without hitch. While endorsing much of President Clinton's foreign policy, he did effectively stake out a position against Clinton "nation-building"--as in Haiti and Somalia. Bush's performance contradicted the Gore campaign's attack on him as a "bungler" and a "bumbler."

Nobody but a partisan spinner could declare a clear "winner" or "loser" at Wake Forest. Nevertheless, both the polls and the experts give the edge to Bush. That is bad news for Gore, who was slipping in most polls going into the second presidential debate.

Gore, in effect, is still suffering from the consequences of the first debate when he sighed, snorted, rolled his eyes, interrupted and generally broke the rules. His political style is attack, attack, attack. To correct the damage done from his first debate, he in effect tried to transform his personality -- not an easy task in mid-campaign, much less in mid-debate.

The transformation was not completely successful. When moderator Jim Lehrer's decision to prolong the foreign policy discussion produced a non-confrontational situation, Gore tried to take the offensive. He was also up to some of his old tricks. After Bush expressed his opposition to gay marriage, Gore said: "I'm not for gay marriage." Only a few minutes later, however, he said: "I think that we should fund civic unions. And I basically agree with Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman, and I think the three of us have one view and the governor (Bush) another."

In the second debate, Bush did what he had not in the first debate: refute Gore's wild claims on tax cuts for the top 1 percent of income earners. Bush responded that while those taxpayers pay one-third of all federal income taxes, they receive only one-fifth of his proposed tax cuts.

Was Bush the perfect debater? Far from it. He spent too long on the defensive, staving off Gore's attacks on his record as Governor of Texas. He did not get to the question of federal spending increased under Gore.

But George W. Bush in two debates has played master debater Al Gore to no worse than a draw and maybe a little better. If the polls continue to show improvement by Bush, the pressure will be on the vice president next week at the third debate in St. Louis.

 
EUROPE'S VIEW
Where do Bush and Gore stand on issues of importance to Europe? Launch our Interactive Guide.

POLLS
View the latest tracking poll or dig into our poll archives.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

VIDEO
Watch selected policy speeches and campaign commercials from the major presidential candidates.

WHERE THEY STAND
See where George W. Bush and Al Gore stand on the major issues.

THE STATES
Who are your elected officials? What is the past presidential vote and number of electoral votes in your state? What are the presidential primary results and exit polls? Find out with these state political and election facts.

ELECTION GUIDE
Get Election 2000 zip code searchable candidate biographies and other material for races for governor, Senate and House in our Election Guide.

FOLLOW THE MONEY
How much money have the candidates raised? Here are their quarterly reports to the Federal Election Commission.

RACES
If you need to know who's up in 2000 and what seats are open, launch this quick guide.

WEB WHITE AND BLUE
Allpolitics.com is a partner in the Web White and Blue rolling cyber-debate, a daily online exchange among the major presidential candidates. Look for twice-daily updates Sunday through Friday until election day.


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Thursday, October 12, 2000


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