Acting, With No Second Takes
Bush and Kerry get set to make their marks in a grand tradition of high-stakes drama
"Most prep is total bull - - - -," one former Democratic prepper says. "You got it, or you don't got it. You either come across as genuine, or you don't come across as genuine. Reagan was overprogrammed for his first debate with Mondale. They had overstuffed his head with facts. George Bush is a similar sort of guy, and I don't mean that in a negative way. When you ask him a question, he answers it. Maybe you don't agree, but you understand what is behind the words. That is his strength in the debate."
Getting a clear impression of the candidates, where they stand and who they are, is one thing debates can provide, along with moments of high drama. And many people will be watching and listening for the first time. "I think these debates will be very influential, just like always," Dole says. "We junkies follow it every day, and we assume everybody in the country must be sitting on the edge of their chair every day. There are a big chunk of people that are just tuning in."
One who will be tuning in for sure this Thursday will be watching from his home in Minneapolis. "I never miss a debate," Mondale says. "For old hacks like me, it's like the Super Bowl."
With Dan Gilgoff
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