Two main rivals for the US Presidency, Democrat Vice-President Al Gore and Republican Texas Governor George Bush, engaged in the first of three nationally televised debates on Tuesday night in Boston, with both holding their ground on wide-ranging issues.
Both spelt out their known positions on education, social security, tax cuts and other economic issues as well as a couple of foreign policy issues like Yugoslavia’s Milosevic and when America should engage in war.

Bush had slight edge: The consensus among observers seems to be that Bush gained more than Gore in the debate because, while Gore’s long experience in government and institutions like the Senate prepared the public for a confident performance, they had not been so sure about Bush who is better known only in Texas.
By demonstrating that he too has a grasp of major national issues like tax reform, social security, education and other issues, he proved his capacity for leadership of the nation, analysts noted.
The next Presidential debates are scheduled to be held on Oct 11 and Oct 17.
A nasty turn: The debate turned somewhat nasty when, in response to a question by the moderator, Bush attacked Gore’s character, speaking about the time when Gore went to a Buddhist temple where nuns allegedly gave several cheques for Gore’s campaign. Gore, however, said that he would not engage in personal attacks but would stick to policy.
On Yugoslavia or Serbia, both were against Milosevic but while Bush said he would invite the Russians to persuade Milosevic to step down, Gore felt that it would be a mistake to bring the Russians in because they appear to favour a run-off, which is also Milosevic's goal.
War and peace: On issues of war and peace, Gore made it clear that he would make the military even stronger but would not seek to make America the world’s policeman. He would intervene abroad only to protect America’s national security or its allies but otherwise limit foreign interventions. And if he intervened, he would make sure there was an exit policy. Gore said that he would also use force, as in Bosnia and Yugoslavia, to avert genocide.
Bush emphasised that he would work for all Americans while Gore focused on the core supporters of the Democratic party, like senior Americans, labour and the poor and middle class.
He charged that Bush’s tax cut proposals would favour the rich. Bush replied that, naturally, those who pay taxes would get more relief but, under his plan, he claimed, the poor would pay no tax at all.
What they said did not seem to matter as much as the impact of their words on the country. Both camps are eagerly waiting to see how their man did in the eyes of the American voters.

Not a direct debate: The first debate was so structured as to make each candidate reply to the moderator and not challenge each other directly, though they were standing on the same platform. The rules will change in the next two debates.
It could be said at the end of the first debate that neither candidate lost. Whether Bush was a gainer from the debate would be known when the next polls come in.
Bureau Report