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CAMPAIGN 2000 --
THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

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Oahu viewers split
on who had the edge

Polls favor Gore, 3 to 4

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Sean Zearley, 28

BAR MANAGER / REPUBLICAN
"I would have to side a little more with Gov. Bush."

Who won? "Gov. Bush. Mr. Gore seemed a little desperate to me."

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Donald Dennison, 33

NURSE / INDEPENDENT
"I thought that Gore was on the attack. ... Bush didn't say clearly what he was going to do about the four justices and the abortion issue ... I thought that Bush won this debate. But he has to be more clear on what he plans to do with this major issue about abortion."

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Irene Chan, 70

LIBRARY ASSISTANT / DEMOCRAT
"I would say by and large I like Gore. To me, he seemed more presidential. Bush had folksy charm. ... I still like Gore."

Who won? "I'm not sure. ... I still like Gore. I like his wife, too."

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Precy Espiritu, 63

UH PROFESSOR / DEMOCRAT
"I thought that Gore was very high-minded. He knew a lot about foreign policy. He had a lot of depth. He knew his stuff."

Who won? "I think Gore did. On issues I think Gore did. ... He hit the high road on this one."

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David Baccus, 50

SALESMAN / INDEPENDENT
"I hate to say it, but to me Bush -- he's just a frat boy. ... I think Gore has a much better handle on everything."

Who won? "I would definitely say that Gore was by far more credible and had a better set-up."

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Gore gets the edge
over Bush in 3 of 4
instant debate polls

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Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Debate watchers gave Democrat Al Gore the edge over Republican George W. Bush in three of four instant polls, but both candidates apparently improved their image with voters.

Vice President Gore was judged to have performed better in the debates in a CBS News poll of 812 registered voters by 56 percent to 42 percent for the Texas governor. Gore was seen to have performed better by 48 percent to 41 percent for Bush in a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll of 435 registered voters who watched the debate. In an NBC News instant poll, 46 percent said Gore did the better job, while 36 percent said Bush fared better.

And the two were ranked about even in an ABC News poll -- women favored Gore, while men favored Bush.

One measure that may have helped Bush: A third in the CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll had a better impression of him after the debate, while a fourth had a better impression of Gore.

The ABC News poll of 491 registered voters showed no significant change in candidate preference. They were about evenly split before the debate, 48 percent for Bush and 45 percent for Gore, and the numbers barely budged.

The CBS poll, conducted online among a random sample of viewers who were given WebTV to participate, showed that Bush still has to convince more voters that he has adequately prepared for the job of president. Just over half, 54 percent, said he has adequately prepared for the job compared with 70 percent who said that of Gore. That's about the same results the two got on that question in a regular CBS-New York Times poll released Monday.

The polls had error margins of 4 percentage points.