The N&R’s Doug Clark says the Dole-Hagan debate was a draw:
Dole actually excels at generalities and platitudes. When she looks at the camera, smiles and drawls, “Always my family, my roots and my heart have been in North Carolina,” she undoubtedly gains votes. Hagan hasn’t mastered that art form, and it isn’t her style anyway.
Her challenge is to detach the Dole personality from the issues and attach the George W. Bush record in its place while resisting Dole’s efforts to tie her to the Democratic record in Raleigh, which is vulnerable to criticism. Dole leads in the polls, but this is a long race and nothing is ever decided in June.
