41.   By the time the first debate aired, Clinton was well ahead in polls, and many voters believed the contest was over.

42.   Clinton will join millions of other voters viewing the first debate between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

43.   Coupled with this is a phrase that Gov. Bush used against him in their first debate and that Gore has appropriated with great glee.

44.   Despite expectations to the contrary, Bush was hardly a flop in his first debates, with Governor Ann Richards.

45.   Despite huge buildups to the first debate and relentless positive spin from their operatives, the candidates said little about their performances Sunday night in Hartford.

46.   Dole acknowledged as much in his first debate with Clinton.

47.   Dole scoffed at the president for being linked to a series of scandals, which Dole had avoided doing in their first debate.

48.   During his first presidential debate, George W. Bush volunteered that he was reading a book about postwar international policy.

49.   During its first debate of the current bill last year, a fistfight broke out among opposing lawmakers.

50.   During the first debate, Lungren slammed Davis for missing a meeting in Mexico of the California World Trade Commission.