Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole failed to deliver the dominating performance he needed to win over the electorate, according to the College's own political pundits who gathered in the Rockefeller Center to watch last night's presidential debate live on The Cable News Network.
It was during the discussion of character that the 100-member audience had the strongest reactions. Some students cheered while others laughed as Dole repeatedly attempted to point out weaknesses in Clinton's character.
"Dole lost by not winning and Clinton won by not losing," said Michael New, chairman of the Conservative Union at Dartmouth.
Ned Dylvig '00 said, "Bob Dole had a better debate than Clinton. But it wasn't what he needed."
"His position in the polls required him to have a big win and his performance just won't get him the numbers he needs," Dylvig said.
The audience, which was about half that which attended the first presidential debate, often reacted to the comments made by both candidates throughout the debate.
Reaction ranged from light groans and applause to shouting and pounding on tables.
The crowd was split as to who actually won the debate.
Rockefeller Student Council intern Jake Shields '99 said Clinton was the clear winner.
"Clinton looked charismatic and he played the crowd well," Shields said. "Dole looked confused and uncertain of himself."
David Schleicher '00, a member of Young Democrats, said he also felt it was a poor performance by Dole and not an extraordinary showing by Clinton.
"Clinton didn't deliver a knock out, Dole just fell over," he said.
Lucas Bianchi '99, who considers himself a conservative, said he did not think Dole was concrete enough on his own issues.
"Dole tried to move a little more on the offensive but he looked desperate," he said. "Clinton was overall just a lot smoother and I think he won hands down."
But CUAD member Vincent Leung '00 said he thought Dole did an excellent job of presenting his ideas for the future.
"I think that Dole came across great tonight and did well at pointing out the typical Clinton rhetoric and hypocrisy," he said.
Many of the students and faculty in attendance also criticized Dole's attempts to attack Clinton on the character front.
New said while Dole attempted to be more aggressive toward Clinton's character and presidential record, he was not aggressive enough.
"I thought we'd see Dole be a lot more hard hitting," he said. "He did come out more aggressive, but he could have been even more aggressive."
Government Professor Constantine Spilliotes said he did not feel the character strategy worked well for Dole.
"Dole came out swinging, but Clinton refused to bite," he said. "He avoided getting sucked in and that prevented Dole from getting off the mark with the character issues."
Government Professor Catherine Shapiro said Dole could not help but be hurt by the character issues.
"It is a no win situation for Dole," she said. "If he doesn't attack Clinton, he makes the conservatives unhappy. If he does attack, he looks mean."
Shapiro said she thinks the town hall format of last night's debate may have played a role in Clinton's success at fending off Dole attacks.
"It was a format and a series of questions that favored Clinton," she said. "Dole was forced to ask the critical questions that the audience didn't and that put even more pressure on him."
Spilliotes said he does not feel last night's debate will have any significant effect on the polls.