hursday night's debate in New Hampshire was a fine introduction to the Republican presidential candidates, but only that.
With barely seven weeks left before the Jan. 24 Iowa caucuses begin the nominating process in earnest, the candidates need to do much more to flesh out their agendas and demonstrate the skills to implement them. Additional debates are one good vehicle. They will be more valuable if they focus on one issue area at a time and if there are more opportunities for interaction.
To their credit, many of the Republicans are very specific, at least on some issues. There is no doubting that Senator John McCain would try to enact significant campaign finance reforms and that Steve Forbes would seek a flat-rate income tax.
Governor George W. Bush of Texas says he will produce a range of detailed proposals on the theory that the clearer and more specific they are in the campaign, the easier they will be to get enacted if he wins. This week's tax cut proposal was a start.
But Thursday's forum raised many questions. For instance:
Bush's warning to Saddam Hussein that if weapons of mass destruction are produced ''I'd take 'em out'' demands elaboration beyond his comment yesterday that ''the means will be evident.'' Would he act unilaterally or only with international support? If he is talking about bombs, how would they eliminate biological weapons?
McCain was clear on his goal of scrapping pork-barrel military equipment not even requested by the Pentagon but needs to flesh out the military structure he does support.
Forbes should explain how his view on advancing the Social Security retirement age has changed in 22 years.
The emphasis on Internet questions in Thursday's forum was an intriguing surprise, but it was disappointing that so much time was spent on silly personality questions and so little on education or the World Trade Organization.
The candidates should supply a lot more answers before real voters start casting real ballots.
