SUPPORTERS CONCEDE NO ONE SCORED A `KNOCK-OUT PUNCH'

As expected, local partisans believed their respective candidates fared best in Sunday's presidential debate at St. Louis.

But whether Democrat, Republican or independent, all agreed that none of the three candidates landed a "knock-out punch."

"I didn't think anybody really won or lost the debate," said Ralph Ford, chairman of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Committee.

Virginia Douglas of Cape Girardeau joined about 45 other Democrats at Sand's Pancake House. Orval Thorne, owner of the restaurant, is the Democratic candidate for Cape Girardeau County Treasurer.

"I think all three of the candidates had a chance to screw up, and they all came out of it in pretty good shape," she said.

Cape Girardeau County Auditor Weldon Macke, a Republican, said he thought the debate did little to sway voters still undecided about their choice.

"I don't think anything earth-shaking happened," he said. "I thought the president held his own really well, but I think a lot of people will be deciding in the booth.

"People know things haven't been rosy under the president, but what Clinton's proposing, we can't afford it," Macke added. "I think there are a lot of minds out there that won't be made up until the last minute."

Neither President George Bush, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton or independent candidate Ross Perot emerged the clear winner Sunday, but potential voters had distinct opinions of the event.

Republicans generally said Bush appeared relaxed, confident and competent, while Democrats held that Clinton scored points with his views on issues like the economy and health care. Still others thought Perot's folksy wit and irreverence scored heavily in his favor.

During Monday's debate, Clinton and Perot tried to focus discussion on the economy, while Bush lauded his foreign affairs achievements.

One of the most spirited exchanges of the debate came when Bush questioned Clinton's "judgment and character" when during the Vietnam War Clinton traveled to the Soviet Union, presumably to organize anti-war activities.

Ford said Clinton's handling of the question bothered him. "One thing he talked about was a new military," he said. "I'd like to know what he means by that.

"I hope it isn't what he did some 20 years ago when he didn't go to war and helped arrange things in foreign countries against our own military," Ford added. "If that's what he means, I don't want anything to do with his new military."

But Rich Althaus, a political science professor at Southeast Missouri State University, said at Sand's restaurant that Clinton's response to the issue was the "best swat of an incoming pitch" in the debate.

Clinton compared Bush's criticism to Sen. Joe McCarthy's anti-communist, "red-baiting" of the 1950s. He then invoked the name of Bush's father, Prescott, as one of those who rightly criticized McCarthy.

"I think that was a hard screaming shot off the left-field wall," said Althaus.

Gilbert Degenhardt, who has organized local efforts of the Perot campaign, said the independent presented the clearest message of the three candidates Monday.

"I think as gently and as calmly as he could, he made an effort to state the case which far outdid the other two candidates' efforts," Degenhardt said of Perot.

Degenhardt said Perot is the only candidate willing to propose a plan to eliminate the nation's deficit and control national debt. "All the rest stands or falls with the deficit," he said.

Albert Cox and Roy Baker, both of Cape Girardeau, also attended the gathering at Sand's. Both said they thought Clinton a clear winner in the debate.

"I thought Clinton on the health care system, education and family values was really strong," said Cox. "I don't think Bush looked as confident as Clinton."

Baker added: "I think Clinton submarined Bush on everything he tried to put across. Bush wouldn't stay on the questions; he'd veer off and go back to talking about foreign affairs.

"But what we're interested in is this country. The economy is the key issue."

Ford said that regardless of what polls tell us about the debate, too many voters remain undecided. "I think the election will really be decided in the next three and a half weeks," he said.

"A lot of people are listening at this point. I also remember an election when we went to bed thinking Dewey was president and woke up learning Truman was."

Ford said Bush needs to assert himself more in the debates and on the campaign trail. He said the American people still lack solid answers from Clinton on questions of his character.

Ford said it's also important for Bush to continue to focus attention on Congress and its role in the current economic conditions.

"The next Congress is going to be different," he said. "It will have at least 100 new members. It's important for Bush to continue to get it across to the voters that he'll be working with a new Congress."

Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau, also a Republican, said Bush did a good job of stressing to the American people that "things aren't so bad" economically.

"I've been chagrined throughout this campaign at the negativity that's directed toward our country," Kasten said. "We're the envy of the whole world and should be. Our poorest people in the whole country are rich compared to people elsewhere."

Kasten also said she hopes Bush continues to defend his record, which isn't always treated fairly in the media. She said she wants the president to be assertive without "slinging mud."

"I think the debates are a good opportunity for him to get his views across to the American people," she said. "Too much of what you hear in advertisements is just rhetoric."