LOS ANGELES -- Even before Wednesday night's debate between the two Democratic presidential candidates began, former Sen. Bill Bradley had to face questions about the duration of his candidacy.

Shortly after he walked into the auditorium where the debate was to be held, Bradley was surrounded by screens broadcasting a commentary by a CNN political analyst questioning how long the former senator could survive in the race against Al Gore.

"What can he do, he's tried everything," said analyst William Schneider as the audience looked and listened in surprise and the room became hushed.

Bradley, who has faced repeated questions over the feasibility of his candidacy amid dismal primary results and poor popularity polls, looked up to the screen and stared at Schneider then burst into laughter.

He then played to the audience and mocked a big punch at the screen.

CNN, which was televising the debate, quickly turned down the volume of the commentary which came just before the 90-minute debate began.

As in past debates, there was a marked contrast in the style of the two candidates when they walked into the auditorium.

Bradley entered first and headed straight to his podium while Gore -- who has worked hard to shed his stiff image --started shaking hands and talking to some of the Democratic party supporters before reaching the stage.

Taking a cue from his rival, Bradley started ambling around looking for people to greet and ended up chatting with the journalists on the panel.

After a few minutes of looking uneasy, Bradley grinned as Gore was called back to his podium as the countdown for the debate began.

"Mr. Gore, could I have you in position please," the producer yelled as Gore continued to work the aisles of undecided Democrats who were randomly selected to ask questions at the debate.

The vice president ended up jogging across the room and got in place just seconds before the program began.

Unlike the last, acrimonious debate at the historic Apollo Theater in New York's Harlem neighborhood, this encounter was seen as more of a love fest.

Bradley set the mood to establish a more casual atmosphere when he took the first question then wandered around the podium and approached the questioner to answer.

Gore followed suit and the two then performed a sort of "do-si-do" around their podiums for the next hour and a half, as they alternated standing behind their podiums and walking around.

Unlike the hisses, boos and cheers from the crowd at the Apollo Theater 10 days ago, the 150 hand-picked members of the audience on Wednesday were virtually silent throughout the debate.

They laughed at a few jokes, but never applauded -- perhaps in fear of repercussions from the CNN organizers who had laid out a set of ground rules before the debate began.

But they gave a standing ovation to the Democratic contenders after they finished the debate.