Debaters Go Easy On Kerry

By David Paul Kuhn
CBSNews.com Chief Political Writer

"I would say that this president, regrettably, has perhaps not learned some of the lessons of that period of time, when we had a very difficult war," Kerry said during the 90-minute-long debate. In recent weeks, Mr. Bush has come under increasing scrutiny about whether he fulfilled his legal obligations in the National Guard during the Vietnam War.

On Kerry's vote authorizing the war in Iraq, he said: "My regret is not the vote. It was appropriate to stand up to Saddam Hussein… My regret is this president choosing the wrong way, rushing to war."

Throughout the night, Kerry successfully kept criticism away from himself and aimed instead at the president, leaving the frontrunner unscathed and as strong as ever heading into Tuesday's Wisconsin primary.

"I was somewhat surprised that they didn't go after Kerry," John McAdams said, an associate professor of political science at Marquette University in Milwaukee, where the debate was held. "It does appear that Dean and Edwards have given up. In Edwards' case, it makes sense - he is on the short list of vice presidential candidates."

Squaring off on issues ranging from the economy to school vouchers, Kerry behaved as the frontrunner. He focused his attacks solely on President Bush. Polls show Kerry likely to win about half the vote on Tuesday. The Massachusetts senator holds a 30-point lead over Sen. John Edwards and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Kerry has won contests in 14 of 16 states so far. Questions persist as to whether Kerry's nearest competitors, Dean and Edwards, will continue their run for the nomination if trounced in Wisconsin. At the debate, both candidates spoke as if they would.

Still without a victory, Dean has called Wisconsin a "must win." Reversing himself last week, he said he would continue his candidacy even if he loses in the Dairy State. If Dean does not win, his campaign says he will return to Vermont and consider his options. And early in the debate, it was clear that even Dean recognized how vital a win in Wisconsin is, however improbable, to his campaign.

"The way I hope to win the Wisconsin primary is by pointing out that Wisconsin voters have elected people like Bob LaFollete and Bill Proxmire and Russ Feingold, who stood up against special interests in the Capitol," Dean said, continuing his strategy of speaking as an insurgent in an effort to regain the momentum the former frontrunner held only a month ago. "Wisconsin has a long history of voting for people like me."

But uncharacteristically, Dean checked his criticism of Kerry throughout the debate. Passing up a chance to rail against Kerry on special interests, something Dean has willingly done as of late, the former governor focused his condemnation on Mr. Bush.

"I think George Bush has some nerve attacking anybody about special interests," Dean said. "Not only has he funded his campaign through special interests, but George Bush is systematically looting the American treasury and giving it to his friends: the pharmaceutical companies, the HMOs and the insurance companies."

It was a measured Dean throughout the night. Critical comments that were aimed at Kerry were indirect hits, as Dean lambasted the Washington establishment but not the senator by name.

"Dean may just be, as far as the Democrats are concerned, getting with the program, he does not want to bloody and bruise the person who is almost certain to be the nominee," observed Professor Ken Mayer, a political scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison. "He may be thinking 'I fought a good fight - back off and think long-term.'"

On Tuesday, the presidential hopefuls are vying for Wisconsin's 72 delegates. It is the last major contest of February. On March 2, ten states spanning the country from California to New York will hold the largest contest of the primary season.

While the impact of the debate was to add to the momentum of the Kerry campaign, the candidates did get a chance to air some differences on the issues. Lacking any chance at winning the nomination, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich also participated in the debate.

Concentrating on the general election, Kerry said he would rollback President Bush's tax cuts "for the wealthiest Americans" and spoke of his health care plan covering 97 percent of Americans.

"It's just not the truth," said Edwards, in one of the night's few tangles. Referring to Kerry's plans, Edwards said Kerry could not accomplish them and also proceed to balance the federal budget.

"We need to set priorities, say what we can afford to do, which I believe I have done, both on tax cuts and on health care and on education," Edwards said. "And then tell the American people the truth about what we can do to balance the budget."

Speaking of a local automotive plant that closed and the "vacant looks" that often cover the faces of the unemployed, Edwards talked about his opposition to free trade agreements as an example of his fight for working class jobs.

Dean disagreed, defending trade agreements like NAFTA.

"The problem is we've only solved half the problem," Dean said. "We've globalized the rights of big corporations to do business anywhere in the world. We did not globalize human rights, labor rights and environmental rights, and we need to do that."

By David Paul Kuhn