ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610070101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Above
Sandy Smith studied the two tense faces on her television screen with morbid fascination as she waited for signs of distress.
Her vigil was rewarded when the camera zoomed in to capture President Clinton as he defended his tobacco policy.
"He's a little bit mad because the bag under his left eye is twitching," she said.
Although the television audience for the first 1996 presidential debate was expected to be smaller than in past years, Smith and her husband, Don, watched the debate from start to finish. The Roanoke County couple confess to being ``politically minded couch potatoes.'' Don is a retired town manager who served in Vinton in the 1970s and most recently worked in Orange. Sandy, as might be ascertained from her interest in facial features, once drew political cartoons for a Virginia weekly newspaper.
The couple spent Sunday evening critiquing and coaching the two candidates with their friends, James (whose nickname is ``H'') and Donna Ray Saul, who graduated with Don Smith from William Fleming High School in 1950.
Don Smith provided the bulk of Sunday evening's commentary, muttering and grunting as Clinton took credit during his opening remarks for cutting crime, bureaucracy and taxes.
``That's bull,'' Smith said.
Smith switched from fact-checker to coach as Bob Dole took the floor, but he wasn't exactly pleased with the Republican's performance, either, as he meandered off into a reverie on his war days.
``He's digressing,'' Smith said with disgust. ``He's not doing anything.''
``Pretty weak, I thought,'' Smith said as Dole wrapped up.
As the question-and-answer portion of the debate began, the candidates' comments often sparked discussion in the Smiths' den that ranged from education to Medicare to the budget deficit.
``That'll be the day when he balanced the budget,'' H. Saul growled at a promise from Clinton.
``But he has lowered the deficit 60 percent,'' Donna Ray Saul reminded him.
``How do you know?'' her husband asked.
``Donna, are you and H. going to have a debate on the side over there?'' Don Smith asked, glancing over at the couple.
``We might have a knock-down, drag-out,'' she replied, but added, ``No, I'm not a debater.''
``You were in the debate club,'' Don Smith pointed out.
``We usually cancel each other out,'' Donna Ray Saul said of her and her husband. ``I don't know why we vote.''
All four are regular voters, although the Sauls aren't as hooked on C-SPAN as their friends. H. Saul confessed he'd likely have skipped the debate Sunday night if not for his wife's encouragement. All four agreed the debate had little to do with the issues.
``It's almost a Hollywood production,'' Sandy Smith said.
``Anymore, they decide one's wearing too much makeup or the wrong kind of tie,'' her husband said.
After an hour, as both candidates droned on about the economy, it was clear they were losing this audience.
``Is our attention-span deficit showing?'' Don Smith asked as he tossed a toy into the kitchen for his daschund, Weenie, to retrieve.
``I think an hour would have been plenty,'' Sandy Smith said.
``They're going to run out of figures in a minute,'' H. Saul said hopefully.
As the debate wrapped up, all four viewers said their votes weren't swayed by anything they had heard. They agreed that Clinton's performance was stronger, but said they have never made a decision on who to vote for based on debates.
``I go on gut feelings,'' said Donna Ray Saul.
``She's one of those that's going to go by the tie,'' Sandy Smith said.
Don Smith said he sympathizes with Dole's cause, but admitted the Republican's debate performance isn't likely to help him catch up with Clinton in the polls.
``I think he fell short,'' Smith said. ``I don't think he is as polished for television.''
The four weren't sure if they'd watch the next debate, although they were unanimous in agreeing they wouldn't last through another 90 minutes. If they do tune in for the Oct. 16 debate, they at least have learned that they can watch it together and remain friends.
``We can still play bridge together,'' Don Smith said.
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. (From left) Don Smith, James H. Saul,by CNBDonna Ray Saul and
Sandy Smith say the debate seemed too much about style. color. KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENT