Presidential candidates ready to square off over issues

By David Drucker
Daily Bruin Reporter

Republican nominee George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore square
off tonight in the first of three presidential debates that could
determine the closest election in forty years.

With most polls showing the candidates in a statistical
dead-heat, their battle from behind lecterns at University of
Massachusetts, beginning at 6 p.m. and moderated by PBS
Newshour’s Jim Lehrer, could solidify the choice of undecided
swing-voters.

“The entire series of debates is extremely crucial, and
will determine who wins the election,” said Bruin Republicans
Chair Vartan Djihanian.

Political science Professor David O. Sears, co-author of a book
on the 1976 presidential debate and a specialist in politics and
the media, said the candidates’ biggest challenge is to
present their message in a way that’s understandable to the
electorate.

“They will be competing for the center, and stressing the
issues that play most to their strengths,” he said.
“For Gore, that would be safety-net issues, and for Bush,
that would be people suspicious of big government.”

Sears said each candidate has to overcome their perceived
weak-points if they hope to be considered the “winner”
of the debate.

“Bush is a likable guy, but according to some, he comes
across as a lightweight, so he’ll want to dispel that by
focusing heavily on issues,” Sears said. “If
Gore’s going to win, he needs to make sure his opinions
aren’t too complicated for the average voter.”

The format of tonight’s formal debate allows for two
minute statements and one minute rebuttals, with further discussion
allowable at Lehrer’s discretion.

“It’s hard, because you have a setting that’s
confrontational,” said Bruin Democrats President Melanie Ho.
“But Gore is an excellent debater, and he knows how to stay
on the issues.”

But Djihanian is equally confident in Bush’s debating
skills, and he said the candidate he supports is prepared to steer
clear of the campaign rhetoric for which some past debates are
famous.

“Bush isn’t going to blow the debate,” he
said. “He’s prepared, he knows the issues, and this
debate will show just how good he is.”

Sears said the press coverage could be just as important as Bush
and Gore’s reactions to Lehrer’s questions.

The debate result is likely to be debated in and of itself, with
the media casting the deciding ballot in the form of sound bites
recorded and errors endlessly analyzed.

“The candidates will cover a lot of facts, so it’s
hard for the average viewer to understand everything,” Sears
said.

“If the press picks up on a boo boo, their delayed
reaction is what could be important,” he continued.

Though the debate will air on most major networks, NBC will not
show it due to their contractual commitment to the Major League
Baseball playoffs.

According to Sears, lower television ratings and viewership will
only enhance the role the press and pundits will play in
determining each candidate’s viability with the coveted swing
voters in battleground states such as Missouri, Michigan and
Pennsylvania.

“Only a small audience will watch the entire
debate,” Sears said. “Some of the undecided voters
won’t watch at all, and that’s why the media’s
reaction is something to watch for.”

Ho said that the debates don’t necessarily have a
significant effect on the race, but rather tend to reinforce
existing political leanings.

“I’m skeptical of one event changing the American
electorate,” Ho said. “And it still remains to be seen
how many people will actually tune in.”

Paul Backstrom, a fifth-year psychology student and member of
Bruins for Nader, said he would be tuning in to the debate, but
expects it to be a disappointing hour-and-a-half.

“We’re not going to see serious debates, we’re
going to see scripted debates,” said Backstrom, who
criticized the exclusion of Green party presidential candidate
Ralph Nader and other non-major party candidates like Reform Party
presidential hopeful Pat Buchannan.

But despite his personal prediction, Backstrom said he will
watch Gore and Bush spar, and is “hopeful that there will be
lively debate and some real issues will be
discussed.”

DEBATING SEASON OPENS Tuesday night’s
presidential debate in Boston is the first of three debates between
the major party candidates. The vice presidential debate takes
place on Thursday. First Presidential Debate Oct. 3 Vice
Presidential Debate Oct. 5 Second Presidential Debate Oct. 11
University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Centre College, Danville, KY Wake Forest
University, Winston-Salem, NC Candidates Standing at
Podiums; Both candidates get a two minute response to the
moderator’s question. Each candidate then gets a one minutes
rebuttal to the opposing candidate’s response. Candidates Seated
with Moderator; 2 min. response with moderator having discretion to
extend the discussion. Candidates Seated with Moderator; 2 min.
response with moderator having discretion to extend the discussion.
Third Presidential Debate Oct. 17 Washington University,
St. Louis, MO Town Meeting;2 min. response with moderator
having discretion to extend the discussion. Original Graphic by
ADAM BROWN/Daily Bruin Web Adaptation by AVISHAI SHRAGA/Daily Bruin
Senior Staff