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Morning News

Election 2000 Presidential Debate: Stage Set for Second Face- Off in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Aired October 11, 2000 - 11:01 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The stage is set for the second of three debates between Republican George Bush and Democrat Al Gore this evening. The setting is Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

And that's where we find our Jeanne Meserve, who is there this morning.

Jeanne, let's first talk format. This is going to look a little bit different than it did last week when we saw these two men face- off.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Last time they were behind podiums. This time they'll be seated at a semi-circular table. It will actually look a lot like the vice presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky. The very same table's being used, and the same format. A candidate will get two minutes to respond to a question, then his opponent will get another two minutes. Then it's up to the moderator to extend the discussion if or she -- he, in this case Jim Lehrer of public broadcasting, wants to extend the discussion. And there will be closing statements at the end of the debate.

KAGAN: And, Jeanne, since the format is different, does that mean the candidates had to prepare differently for round two?

MESERVE: Well, they've prepared differently only because of their performances in the first debate. George W. Bush has been working to improve his substance, Al Gore has been working on style. They have been going through Q&A quizzes with some of their staffers. They've gone through mock debates. We know that Al Gore brought in his debate coach to deal with some of the style, manner and tone issues that were evident in the first debate. Some people labeled him condescending. He's trying to correct that. And in an unusual twist, we know that Gore's staff sat him down and had him watch "Saturday Night Live"'s spoof of the first presidential debate. We're told he thoroughly enjoyed it.

KAGAN: Did you happen to see that, Jeanne? Did you see that spoof on Saturday night?

MESERVE: No, I did not see it. Sorry.

KAGAN: It was funny. We should cue it up and show it to you sometime. Maybe there'll be one again from this week.

Also, on a more serious note, over the last week there has been a lot of international news to talk about, both in the Mideast and Yugoslavia. Do you expect that will be spoken about tonight?

MESERVE: Well, certainly the candidates have prepared for it. We know that Vice President Gore has been receiving regular updates from his national security staff about the Middle East. And as for George W. Bush, foreign policy is not considered his strong suit. We know that three of his foreign policy advisers were sequestered with him in Austin over the weekend going over these key issues. Also, we're told that one of his mock debates centered almost exclusively on foreign policy questions. He's clearly hoping to be prepared for anything that might be thrown his way in that regard.

KAGAN: Jeanne Meserve in Winston-Salem, I know you have a long day ahead of you. Thanks for being with us this morning. Here's Bill.

MESERVE: Daryn, thank you.

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