Justice Department investigators have been unable to learn who wrote the undated, unsigned and unaddressed memo, which was part of a grand jury proceeding. In 1992, then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton pulled off the campaign trail to oversee the execution of a cop killer. Now, Texas Gov. George W. Bush 's approval of a 30-day reprieve in a death penalty case after allowing 131 executions is an act that could be perceived as the opposite, allowing him to soften his image and attract more moderate voters. But the polls offer little evidence of that now, however. Gore is shown with no clear advantage over George W. Bush on the issue.
Polls show the two about even when people are asked who they trust on guns.
And Republicans argue that the debate may actually help their candidate because of Bush's call for tougher enforcement of existing gun laws, instead of new legislation. While their Democratic counterparts are capturing most of the headlines in the race for New Jersey's open Senate seat, four Republicans are campaigning away in relative obscurity. And many say the attention focused on the primary battle between investment banker Jon Corzine and ex-Gov. Jim Florio will work in their favor. As Rep. Rick Lazio set out from the Republican convention in Buffalo, the immediate concern of his Senate campaign was not what he said, but how he was photographed.