11.   As he approaches his first debate with Vice President Al Gore in Boston next week, it is impossible to know which incarnation of Bush will show up.

12.   As they did during the first debate, the candidates sparred over issues ranging from Medicare to defense policy.

13.   At the first debate in Boston, Gore sighed heavily when Bush spoke and acted impatient, turning off some voters.

14.   At the first debate, North also came in for a share of the attacks.

15.   At the time of the first debate, Weld, trailing by double digit numbers last fall, appeared to have pulled almost even with Kerry in the polls.

16.   Back in December, the Republican primary candidates met in a Manchester, N.H., TV studio for the first debate that included George W. Bush.

17.   Before the first debate, voters said they expected Gore to win the election.

18.   Before the first debate, fewer than half said that of the governor.

19.   Bob Dole did well in his first debate with Bill Clinton, which probably means he did not do himself a whole lot of good in the long run.

20.   Bob Dole raised the pardon issue in the first debate and then backed away.