Turning away challenges and invitations, Republican candidate George W. Bush has not -- until today -- debated against his Democratic opponent Al Gore.
But, tonight the two major party candidates will face off for the first time in the 2000 presidential election season in a debate broadcast live from the University of Massachusetts at Boston starting at 9 p.m. and moderated by Jim Leherer.
Despite the hype that the debates will be a crucial point in the campaigns, Government professor Lynn Vavreck and the majority of the students interviewed by The Dartmouth yesterday did not believe the debates will make or break the election.
"I don't think this will be the deciding factor," Vavreck said.
She said instead that the debate will most likely reinforce voter preferences, explaining that voters who go into watching the debate liking Gore will come out of the debate liking him even more.
"I think a lot of people are going to vote Republican or Democrat no matter what happens at the debate," Aaron Salas '04, who intends to watch tonight, said.
Salas said he grew up in a family that follows politics and will watch the first debate to feed his love of the political game. However, he said the outcome of the debate will most likely not change his view on the candidates.
Vangie Wiles '02 also plans to watch the debate tonight.
"I want to see exactly how well Bush and Gore can present their ideas," she said. "But I already know who I'm going to vote for."
She said she wanted to see "how much they can fool the people," and noted, "It's not so much the issues, but how they present them, how they sugar coat them."
Along the same lines, Vavreck said, "The substance is more important, but visuals will end up being more important to viewers."
She noted that "looking presidential" is very important to presidential candidates.
How they present themselves has been a big concern to the candidates as they have prepared for their first debate. Leading up to today, the two sides have wrangled over microphones, lecterns and other aesthetics. They have also studied up on issues both privately and with advisers to prepare for the debate, which is being billed as a crucial juncture in this close election by analysts and advisers alike.
Some commentators have gone so far as to compare the potential importance of tonight's debate to the famous 1960 face off between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, which was the first-ever televised debate. However, Vavreck said this comparison was not an accurate one.
Although this debate will not weigh in with the same level of importance as the 1960 debate, Vavreck said it will still be important. She said historically the debates have been watched by many -- in 1996, 90 million viewers tuned in.
"It will focus people's attention on the election," she said.
She said other programming will most likely not interfere with the debate tonight since the Olympics are over. She did note, however, that "people will opt for their favorite baseball team" over Gore and Bush.
A few Dartmouth students who talked to The Dartmouth corroborated that the Yankees game was tops on their list for tonight.
Some students also cited men's fraternity rush -- which begins tonight -- a reason they would not be viewing the debate.
However, despite the general apathy that is commonly attributed to students here, the majority said they intended to watch the debate.
"I want to [watch] so I can make fun of Bush -- that's my favorite pastime," Katia Asche '04 said.
Danielle Davey '01 said she plans to watch because her vote is still undecided and she thinks she could learn more about the candidates.
Amanda Molk '01 said she will not be swayed by the debate, but that she intends to watch because she is interested in politics.
Vavreck said she doubts the debate will touch on any completely new subjects, or any specifics beyond what the candidates have already said publicly.
"Almost everything is rehearsed," she said.
In fact, the candidates have been preparing for the debates for a few days. Gore is taking an original tact for his preparation -- receiving suggestions from "average" citizens from across the nation instead of getting debate coaching exclusively from his campaign advisers.
"I think most people can see it for what it is -- an attempt to look more populaced," Vavreck said. But she did not predict that this ploy by Gore will turn off voters. In fact, she said she predicts that Gore will win the 2000 presidential election in November.
Green party candidate Ralph Nader and Reform party nominee Pat Buchanan will not take part in the debate despite recent protests demanding the inclusion of third party candidates.
Due to the debate itself, the preparations leading up to it, and security concerns, classes were not be held at UMass Boston yesterday or today. The campus -- including its library -- will be closed to students, faculty and staff for those two days.
The next debate will be held Thursday at 9 p.m. at Centre College. The candidates will be seated at a table for the second debate.
