European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 16, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 1c the stars and stripes Walter r. Mears Bush leaves debate Arena with Liberal Lead George Bush is quitting the de Bate game and just when he s hitting his stride. Democrat Michael Dukakis was solid and smooth in he debate finale in los Angeles even if his refrain of complaints about being called a Liberal did take on a plaintive air. But nothing the Massachusetts Gover nor managed during 90 crucial minutes on National television is Likely to shake the Republican Edge in the Public Opin Ion polls that Bush margin is magnified when translated into the cd Caloraf Voles that will select a new president in 22 Days. The presidential rivals have heard so much negative reaction to negative campaigning thai they even spoke kindly of each other Bush acknowledging that campaigns sometimes do generate More heat than Light. Neither Man erred or misspoke. Bush seemed More assured and at Case than m the first debate on sept. 2s. Dukakis remembered to be likable. He smiled often and offered i think i m a reason ably likable  the vice president had slipped on his Tongue now and then in the first debate. Not this time. The instant pollsters had Given Duka Kis inc Edge last Lime although it did t translate into support in later surveys. This Lime an Abc news poll rated Bush the Winner 49 percent to 33 percent with the rest calling it even. And thai was Dukakis last Chance to gel at inc vice president face to face. He needed a breakthrough something to turn the Campaign his Way. That will be even More difficult to find now As the candidates return to their Solo campaigns and almost surely to accentuating the negatives about each other. In politics nothing is forever so the debate produced Only one certainty that there will be no More. "1 will not agree to another debate Bush said when asked whether he would meet Dukakis again in order to Deal with complaints thai the Campaign is to vial superficial and negative. Dukakis wanted at least three debates. He wanted them closer to election Day and he wanted Ihm wide open Wilh the candidates confirming each other directly. The Bush Campaign limited the schedule and set the terms with the in Andrew j. Glass elicit threat that if Dukakis walked there would t be any debates at All. The forum the Bush Campaign insisted on limiting now appears to have worked to the vice president s advantage Al though he went into the dual debates with More to risk. But that s it for the season there will be no More debates Bush said. We Don t need any More debates " the rest of the Way he will do it alone. Future Dukakis Campaign salvos will be aimed from a distance. And there is not much Lime for any new potentially Tell ing democratic Campaign themes to Lake Root and produce the turn Dukakis needs. There s no evidence of any such weaponry in the Dukakis Arsenal anyhow. He unveiled nothing new in the Surprise free debate. Instead like Bush he retold old themes. That included a predictable Bush defense and a predictable Dukakis attack on sen Dan Quayle the Republican vice presidential nominee he accused Bush of changing his tune on such issues As the environment and social Security i Don l know which George Bush i m listening to he said but it was hardly the kind of punch he needed. Bush spent a Good share of his time depicting Dukakis As a Liberal too lib eral to support the death penalty to As sure a Strong National defense and to be trusted with supreme court appoint ments. Dukakis repeatedly complained about it i Don t think these labels Mem a thing he said at one Point ". Let s Stop Labelling each other. At another or Bush has used the Label Liberal at least 10  and again if i had a Dollar George for every time you used that Label. I d qualify for one of those lax Breaks for the Rich that you want to give  it certainly would add up be cause Bush will be using it again and again All the Way to the polls on nov. G. Editor note  b.  �01 on Agio Clink twi. Nil Contri Rau onh a outfit Tine 10. Bush was clearly in command of debate Agenda Michael a Dukakis cast his fading presiden tial Hopes into further doubt thursday by failing to overcome a persistent attack by George Bush on inc Dukakis left Wing political  in a critical debate thai from time to Lime took on the unexpected Aura of a civil discourse the Republican vice president even paused in his attacks to Praise his democratic rival for his understandable Pride in his  i did t hear the word Liberal or left one time inc Massachusetts governor responded. Dukakis did not appear to help his cause by gratuitously reminding Lens of millions of viewers of the anti Liberal theme that Bush has stressed in his Campaign. For the most part Bush remained at ease and in Clear command of the debate Agenda. When the ugly Quality of the Campaign itself became an Issue in the debate the vice president maintained Len he was justified in mounting attacks because i Don l want to sound like a kid in the school Yard but he started  if i had a Dollar for every time you used that Liber Al Label i d qualify for that tax exemption you want for inc Nch Dukakis said in one of his few Good lines of the evening. But Bush merely smiled. He was on a Roll and hence Forth would limit his risks. There will be no More debates he declared when a questioner suggested that the negative campaigning had Lumen Many people against the political process. While Dukakis carefully refrained from mentioning president Reagan the vice president called Reagan a role Model for americans and chastised Dukakis for having equated the president with a rolling  for his part Dukakis contended that in s not la Bels but a Alicr our View of America thai truly counts. Both presidential candidates appeared to recognize that they had nol entered this contest on an equal footing. That disparity shaped their Basic strategies and objectives throughout the 90-Minule televised encounter from the Urcla Campus. For the last two months Bush has held a steady if narrow Lead Over Dukakis in nearly All National polls. What is More in slave by state polling the vice presi Dent appears to hold the High ground virtually across the entire  Dukakis needed to accomplish Qune a bit More on his Side of the podium than merely to Edge ahead on Points Dukakis was widely perceived to have won that kind of Victory in his first and Only other encounter with Bush last month in Winston Salem . As the underdog since mid August. Dukakis faced the sniffer Challenge to give Large numbers or undecided voters and Bush leaders fresh and compelling reasons to support his Uncertain candidacy. Moreover he had to do so in a manner that made him come Over As a warmer and More attractive person than he has appeared in the  that score Dukakis said in effect that he must be accepted As is As a reasonably likable Guy but. Also As a serious Guy by contrast the vice president s chief goals in los Angeles were More  the front runner he merely needed to consolidate his current position in seeking to cast further doubts that Dukakis would pursue policies within we political mainstream. America stands tall again Bush concluded reiterating a successful Reagan theme. Judged by these standards Bush held the night and most probably the election in his grasp la Cox marts Rhiw