The Campaign Nears Decision by Default

Three debates leave Bush almost out of time to work the miracle he needs

IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE DECISIVE WEEK OF THE CAMpaign -- not because of what happened but because of what did not. If the Republicans were ever to tighten the presidential race, last week, crowded as it was with TV debates, was when they had to begin. But if anything, their foray seemed to go backward. The latest USA Today/CNN/Gallup tracking poll showed Bill Clinton with an almost unchanged 13-point lead -- and that was on the eve of the big face-off with George Bush and Ross Perot Thursday night, from which the Democrat emerged a clear winner. To some viewers,...

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