Rating the debate

By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist, 10/4/2000

ow did George W. Bush's smirk end up on Al Gore's face?

The vice president came to last night's debate with an impressive tan and statistics-packed answers. He looked good and sounded ready to lead. But the loud sighs, snickers, and imperious glances he directed at his Republican opponent undercut his ability to do something he also needed to do:

Seem likeable.

Fortunately for Gore, Bush didn't do everything he needed to do, either. The Texas governor kindly loaned his smirk to his opponent, but he also left his vaunted charm in the practice studio, at least until late in the debate.

Bush was most adept when it came to painting his Democratic opponent as the insider whose ''fuzzy Washington math'' should alarm voters. When Bush warmed up - about an hour into the face-off - he finally showed some Texas swagger. In the last 10 minutes he took some hard shots at Gore's character and credibility. But early on he seemed nervous behind the big podium.

With no major gaffes on either side, Bush probably helped himself more than Gore did. But still, his shaky beginning did nothing to soothe voters worried about his relative inexperience. His reference point for leadership continues to be the job of being governor of Texas, where he tends to victims of floods and fires. It pales against Gore's years of political experience on Capitol Hill and in the Clinton administration.

What the evening did accomplish was to show clear policy differences between Bush and Gore on abortion, energy, teacher testing, health care, taxes, and Social Security. Is that enough to change the neck-to-neck dynamic of the race as shown by the polls leading up to last night's debate?

I don't think so. We'll have to follow the smirk to Round 2.

Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com.