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Contact: Shawna Smith, DebateWatch 2000, toll free: 1-888-864-9875, or Ranjit Arab, University Relations, (785) 864-8855

DebateWatch survey: Education most relevant, character least in first debate

LAWRENCE--Education, abortion, social security and taxes ‰ in that order ‰ were the most important topics addressed by the candidates in last night's televised Presidential debate, according to a national program headquartered at the University of Kansas that monitors viewer response.

DebateWatch 2000, a national program sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, surveyed viewer response from more than 2,000 participants from 23 states immediately following the debate. The preliminary results of those surveys were announced earlier today.

Early data shows that participants reported that education (21 percent of respondents), abortion (13 percent), social security (12 percent), and taxes (12 percent) were the most useful topics discussed during the debate.

However, viewers reported that leadership and, in particular, character issues (21 percent of respondents) were the least relevant topics in the debate.

Meanwhile, crime (19 percent) - specifically the death penalty, gun control (12 percent), and international relations (10 percent) were topics that individuals wished to be addressed in more detail for the future debates.

DebateWatch officials emphasized that these were preliminary results, and that they were continuing to receive surveys. Still, some themes were already evident.

"The results were not surprising given what we have learned in past elections of what interests people," said Diana Carlin, national director of DebateWatch 2000. "It was the first debate and you can't cover everything in a single debate, so there will always be issues to be discussed in the remaining debates."

Carlin, who is also the dean of the Graduate School and International Programs as well as a professor in communications studies at KU, was in Boston for the debate and is now on her way to the vice-president debate to be held Thursday in Kentucky. While she was in Boston attending the debate, a group of KU students and former students helped tally the results of the national survey.

"DebateWatch 2000 gives viewers the ability to react beyond who won or who lost and it informs the debate sponsors and the candidates what issues voters still do and don't want to hear about. It's an opportunity to help keep a citizen agenda in the campaign dialogue," Carlin said.

DebateWatch 2000 received results from 113 voluntary focus groups across the nation. Fifty-two percent of the participants were female.

If you would like to participate in a DebateWatch 2000 discussion for the remaining two Presidential debates or the vice-presidential debate, please call toll- free1-888-864-9875, or visit the Web site: www.debates.org.