Reply #4: Funny you should ask--I wrote an analysis of their first debate that

[mistertrickster]

DU ran on 9 March.

You can find it here. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/03/09_lesson.html>

The conclusion--

"Bush beat Gore because Bush ran on his record - and Gore let him get away with it, acting as if Bush's record in Texas had nothing worthy of criticism and the man was a bipartisan statesman. On the other hand, Gore, instead of running on his and Bill Clinton's stellar record, couldn't stop talking about future plans, proposals, and provisions, as if he hadn't held the second highest office in the land for the last eight years."