Show Kinder Gentler q Debates tes r V c s a if i Weekly Weekly Whine M F By John Nielson I Editorial Editorial's Editor I watched the Presidential Debate Debater r Sunday night I was very surprised that there was virtually no mudsling- mudsling ing Sure Clinton and Dole criticized criticized b each others other's track record but the gloves never came off Public opinion n polls have long shown that the American people want less dirty politics and it seems like these numbers have been interpreted interpreted interpreted inter inter- by the campaigns to mean that traditional mudslinging should be kept out of the debates It made for a dull unexciting evening for the 1 7 viewing audience According to the Whiners Whiner's Media r Center CNN NBC CBS ABC k Clinton won this debate He won 1 7 about With with bo t the thes the same s same me margin that he has held in the polls for the last few months So something at the Dole campaign must change before the next debate if Dole has any hope of winning the election It might even mean that Dole needs to bring up the character issue possibly the only area in which he has a definite advantage advantage advantage tage over President Clinton To me the biggest disappointment disappoint disappoint- ment of the debate was the lack of Ross Perot and his large ego It would have been a lot more fun to see Perot ask Clinton and Dole about the failures they have experienced while serving in office It would have also been nice to hear some ideas about changing the way our government works instead of discussing discussing discussing dis dis- dis- dis cussing how much the deficit will increase or decrease depending on whose budget plan gets adopted So Dole has his his' back against the wall Perot wont won't be at the next debate to throw fuel on the fire fine so Dole will have to do it himself A 20 point lead for Clinton fol following Qwing the next debate will mean the end of Doles Dole's chances in this election |