All The Spin You Need

A sampling of spin after the first vice presidential debate in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"I thought it was a very good debate. I think Jack Kemp did a good job. I particularly thought he had a powerful closing statement, and he stuck with the economic package. That was our strategy -- every time you get a question, talk about the economic package, what it means to the American people, what it means to working families -- and I think Jack did an excellent job, so I'm very proud of him."

"The vice president did a good job and again he's taking credit for everything that's happened in America. ... He did a good job of promoting more government, tax-and-spend liberal policies, more regulation, more taxes, that's their philosophy."

"You still have time to vote for us!"

-- Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole

"I think he [Gore] hit a home run on all counts. He was, I think, ahead on style, on substance, on common sense. I think he was much more in-depth in terms of responding to the questions, particularly on foreign policy, where I think Jack Kemp dropped the ball."

"I think Jack gets some points for keeping it away from personal attacks, for keeping the level of the debate on a fairly high plane. But I have to tell you, I think he was trapped by the same kind of rap he's given for 20 years and he just couldn't break out of it, he just couldn't move on the questions. Whereas, frankly, I think Vice President Gore was able to speak much more substantively on the issues and to present the vision that we wanted to present for the future."

-- White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta

"There's no doubt on substance that Jack won. I think he won on likability."

-- Senior Dole campaign adviser Charles Black

"Jack Kemp's a very close friend of mine and I chaired his 1988 campaign. Tonight he was very enthusiastic and consistent with his message... But I have to say Al Gore had the best night he's ever had as a debater. He had a lot of facts, he was very disciplined and I think to a certain extent he will be perceived as the winner after tonight, at least by debate coaches across the country."

"Gore was prepared for this debate, he's practiced five nights in a row. I've seen Jack have better nights."

-- Ed Rollins, Republican strategist

"I, by my watch, counted 41 minutes on tax policy at the beginning of the debate and another 5 or 6 minutes during the rest of the debate. The last time I sat through 46 minutes of tax policy was in law school. I wonder how many people stuck with it."

"At the beginning, Jack Kemp said we should debate with dignity and respect. Al Gore said we should have a positive debate. That happened. I congratulate them both."

-- Robert Barnett, Democratic strategist and former debate coach

"These guys are two policy wonks and I thought they both did very well."

"It's a little bit like triple-A baseball compared to major-league baseball. It's tryout time. They're showing off for the year 2000."

-- Columbia University historian Henry Graff

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