[Linda Stouffer, Cnn Anchor:] References to fuzzy math and Medicare lock boxes gave way to agreements and some apologies last night. It was the second presidential debate, and it did have a noticeably different tone than the first debate. CNN's Keith Oppenheim joins us live now from Winston-Salem, North Carolina with a look at some of the evening's more note-worthy exchanges. Good morning, Keith.
[Keith Oppenheim, Cnn Correspondent:] Good morning to you, Linda. And round two here at Wake Forest University was intended to be a more informal format, and it was an opportunity for the candidates, as well, to show that they could do more than just argue. Mr. Gore wanted to show that he could be likable. Mr. Bush wanted to show that he has some expertise, especially in foreign policy. And both are trying to break a near-dead heat in the polls.
[Oppenheim:] From the opening hand shake to the end of 90 minutes, the second debate was clearly different from the first. Vice President Al Gore didn't sign or attempt to dominate.
[Jim Lehrer, Debate Moderator:] Let's move on.
[Vice Pres. Al Gore , Presidential Candidate:] Far be it from me to suggest otherwise.
[Oppenheim:] Governor Bush was less rattled and more fluid on questions of foreign policy.
[Gov. George W. Bush , Presidential Candidate:] Maybe I am missing something here. I mean, are we going to have kind of a nation-building Corp from America? Absolutely not. Our military is meant to fight and win war.
[Oppenheim:] Yet, with all the civility, there were key moments of disagreement. Gore attacked Bush's record on health care.
[Gore:] The governor opposed a measure put forward by Democrats in the legislature to expand the number of children that would be covered, and instead directed the money toward a tax cut, a significant part of which went to wealthy interests.
[Bush:] If he is trying to allege that I am a hard-hearted person and I don't care about children, he is absolutely wrong. We spent $4.7 billion a year in the state of Texas for uninsured people, and they get health care.
[Oppenheim:] In the past week, the Bush campaign has hit hard on factual errors made by Gore in the first debate.
[Bush:] I am going to continue to defend my record and defend my propositions against what I think are exaggerations.
[Oppenheim:] Gore acknowledged the mistakes, but argued that his big-picture message is what is important.
[Gore:] I will promise you this with all the confidence in my heart and in the world that I will do my best, if I am elected president, I will work my heart out to get the big things right for the American people.
[Oppenheim:] Now, of course, the question turns to who did better in the second debate and what effect, if any, it will have on the third and final debate next Tuesday in St. Louis. Reporting live in Winston-Salem, I am Keith Oppenheim. Linda, back to you in Atlanta.
[Stouffer:] Thank you, Keith, and we will be watching.