Nets In Middle Of Debate Over Debate Venues

George W. Bush on Monday stood by his offer for three presidential debates, including one on NBC and another on CNN, branding rival Al Gore's quick rejection as "Washington doublespeak."

Gore maintained his resistance to the Texas governor's proposal. "It's become a tradition to get all the networks together and give all of the American people the right to see three 90-minute primetime debates," he said.

Bush proposed the first debate for Sept. 12 during a special primetime edition of NBC's "Meet the Press."

It would be followed Oct. 3 in Los Angeles on CNN's "Larry King Live" and Oct. 17 at Washington University in St. Louis.

Bush campaign chairman Don Evans said the debates Bush agreed to would occur during prime viewing hours and that CNN and NBC have agreed to make video feeds of the events simultaneously available to other networks.

"These were important criteria for us," Evans said.

Bush also said the debates would be carried on the Internet.

"We reject George Bush's plan to shortchange Americans by cutting tens of millions of people out of the presidential debate audience," Gore campaign chairman William Daley said.

Speaking at a rally before a Labor Day parade in this Chicago suburb, Bush taunted Gore for not accepting the offer. "My opponent said he would debate me anyplace, anytime, anywhere," Bush said. "I said fine. Why don't we just show up … and discuss our differences.

"All of a sudden the words 'anytime, anywhere' don't mean anything," he added to cheers from several thousand supporters. "It's time to get some plain- spoken folks in Washington."

Gore insisted that Bush must first accept the three 90-minute debates proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Gore has accepted those offers, saying they will reach the widest possible viewing audience and that Bush's proposal would not.

"This is not about what is best for George W. Bush or what is best for Al Gore. It's about what's best for the American people," Gore said on NBC's "Today" program.

Few in either party expect Republican Bush's overture — or Democrat Gore's refusal — to be the final word on debates as the campaigns maneuver to arrange terms that best play to the respective strengths of each candidate while exploiting the rival's weaknesses.

Bush aides emphasized that the CNN and NBC debates on their list had previously been accepted by Gore, a seasoned debater who has accepted dozens of debate invitations.

The Bush campaign, by contrast, was looking for a more informal setting with a single, preferably noncombative moderator.

After a difficult two weeks that had seen Gore's poll numbers rise, Bush strategists sought a way to steal attention from the vice president's 27-hour Labor Day tour.

They did it with a hastily arranged news conference Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas, with Bush's debate proposals.

Gore quickly rejected the offer but told reporters he held out hope.

"I'm hopeful that we'll eventually have all three commission debates," Gore said.

Only one of the events Bush accepted — the final one in St. Louis — was proposed by the bipartisan commission that has overseen presidential debates since 1988.

The Bush proposal also includes two vice presidential debates: Oct. 11 in Winston-Salem, N.C., and a later forum yet to be decided.

On Monday, Daley told reporters he would contact the debate commission today in hopes of arranging a meeting. "The bottom line is if there are no presidential debates, the American people will make a decision on who has stiffed them," Daley said.