European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes William m. Welch debate did t do much for Dukakis Campaign even democrats acknowledged Friday that Michael Dukakis race was made no easier by his final debate with George Bush leaving the Democrat with a Little Over three weeks 10 make up a lot of ground and to Hope for a mistake by the Vic president the first polls suggested a Victory Tor Bush while both sides pushed the View that their Man had  the next Day s judgment by Lead ers in both parties seemed to be that the debate was a lost Opportunity for Dukakis that he failed to recast the presidential race on his issues and did not appreciably warm his Cool and detached personal image. I expected a very aggressive Duka Kis and t did t find it said Republican Senate Leader Bob Dole of Kan Sas i m not sure these debates really amount to much said Senate majority Leader Robert Byrd of Wesl Virginia in a remark that May have reflected democratic disappointment that Dukakis made no Gams top Dukakis aide John Sass acknowledged the vice president had the Edge in instant polling taken after the two presidential nominees met in los Angeles thursday night for their second and final debate. He maintained however that Dukakis performance was Good enough. We scored with undecided an swing voters last evening thai s what we were looking for Sasso said we re Down a Little bit in the poll there s no question about  it s Well within  an Abc news Survey called the Vic president the Winner by 49 percent to 33 percent. A los Angeles times pol had it 47 to 26 with the rest unsure. With Dukakis trailing at least slightly in most National polls and by larger amounts in electoral Colleg handicapping the question was How the democrats could turn thing around. He has to get on the offensive an put George Bush on the defensive said Norman Ornstein analyst at the conservative american Enterprise Institute and then Hope Bush makes mistake he added. Nowhere was the debate watched Andrew j. Glass More closely than in the big Battle ground states where Bush and Dukakis fates lie. New York democratic chairman Laurence Korwan said Dukakis did everything he thought he could do and performed Well but he acknowledged Bush May be seen As winning the encounter. Bush May have exceeded expectations Kirwan said a lot of people say he has difficulty in a lengthy for Mal putting two sentences together thai obviously was not a problem for him last night. He came out quite  in Cleveland former  democratic chairman and county commissioner Tim Hagan Sai Dukakis won the debate on issues but Bush won on  me said Dukakis Likely remains Well Short of the 60 percent support a Democrat usually needs in Cleveland if heis to carry the state. Sure it s disappointing he  have to pitch a perfect game be tween now and nov. 8." democratic consultant Ann Lewis said Hopes for a breakthrough by either candidate weren t realistic. She Sai Dukakis now must run a ground strategy pounding on a few economic themes and relying on organization to produce a High democratic turnout we really Are where we were yester Day at this time she said. Bush Campaign manager James Baker 111 saw a conflict in Dukakis objectives going into the debate Dukakis needed to appear More Armand likable since his dour Demeanour was judged to have Hurt him before but also had to be on he offensive As the race s  s pretty hard to attack in a de Bate and at the same time appear More likable said Baker. So it was a very difficult situation Tor him i  Neutral political observers judged Dukakis s performance an the Outlook for his candidacy harshly. I d say the Road to the election for Dukakis is rougher today than it was yesterday said Larry Sabato University of Virginia political analyst. He simply was t near his est. He missed so Many chances to redefine himself to pull  31pbum�d Purtil what qualifies9 a candidate to be president when we be got mice in the basement or Batsin the attic it s Lime to Call a professional. But what kind of expertise do we need in the presidency Todeal with ail the pests foreign and Domestic which inevitably will gnaw away at America s vitals in  it is a question that no doubt Stilt perplexes quite few voters who watched the final debate of the presidential Campaign. Haw after All Are we to de cide whether George Bush or Michael Dukakis is belter qualified for the Job logically we should first took to the candidates own words. But so far that has been an unreliable guide. Thus Bush has sought to portray himself As crime Buster. Yet there is Tittle in his Lone Public career save for a Bil of anti drug work Down i Florida that qualifies Bush to Market himself As an expert in slopping Crooks. What s More by tradition we americans abhor he idea of a powerful Federal police Force. We hold Hal most such chores Are Best left to the states. On the other hand while George Bush was still i knickers his patrician parents look him to visit All the great capitals of Europe Many of which Duka Kis has yet to Sec. Bush s Early experience fostered a life Long Devotion to foreign affairs. It spawned a track record in government service that Dukakis simply can t match. The real question we should ask ourselves is How much does the experience Factor really matter John f. Kennedy to whom Dan play la has com pared himself said while campaigning for the presi Dency in i960 that no Clear Cut career pattern existed that could reliably prepare any person to head the executive Branch of government. Kennedy As Quayle had served in the sen ate for eight years. However Kennedy was also a Harvard scholar a genuine War hero a pulitzer prize winning author and a Veteran world traveler. Abc s David Brinkley who has watched Ever chief executive up close since the reign of Franklin d. Roosevelt believes the Only True qualification for the presidency Are Char Acler and intelligence probably in that  benchmarks seem As Good As any Assum ing of course we can adequately measure such qualities in candidates through All the bomb fog Hal has been thrown off by the packaged campaigns Andin stilled debates. Historians could credibly argue that in terms of sheer experience there was no More qualified per son to undertake the presidency than James Buchanan who was elected in 1856 Al age 65. Buchanan had been a lawyer and a Soldier. Reserved in the House for 10 years and for another 10 in the Senate. He was an ambassador to Rujela an to great Britain As Well As serving four Yean As Secretary of stale. Yet he quickly tired in office an did Little to keep the country from sliding toward civil War by contrast Harry Truman was a self Mademan who never went to College. Asa senator he was widely viewed As a Hack who remained Beholden Toa corrupt Hometown political machine. Ai vice president Roosevelt Kepi him in the dark about All key decisions. Yet the inexperienced Truman became one or our greatest presidents. He helped revive a War ravaged Europe fostered democracy in Japan stood up to the unions at Home and always said precisely what was on his mind. We would be in a lot belter shape now i either of the programmed politicians who aspire to be our next president possessed some of Truman native guts and simple honesty. The opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons Way to be considered u representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United Stiles government