Posted on 08/25/2002 2:46:40 PM PDT by BlessingInDisguise
Schroeder, challenger seek advantage in Germany's first U.S.-style TV debate Sun Aug 25, 3:07 PM ET By TONY CZUCZKA, Associated Press Writer
BERLIN - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his conservative challenger faced off Sunday in an unprecedented TV debate four weeks before national elections, both gambling that they can sway the many wavering voters in the closely fought race to lead Germany.
Schroeder launched confidently into the 75-minute duel with Bavarian governor Edmund Stoiber, his standing bolstered by taking charge of relief efforts after major flooding that has dominated German headlines for the past two weeks.
"When I look at the latest polls I see no reason to quake in my boots," said Schroeder as the debate on two nationwide commercial TV channels got underway in a Berlin studio.
But Stoiber swiftly pinned the blame for Germany's lame economy and stubbornly high unemployment on Schroeder — problems that have put the incumbent on the defensive for months in the campaign for Sept. 22 parliamentary elections.
Germany's economic situation is "a catastrophe" caused by the government's "wrong policies," Stoiber said in response to questions from the two interviewers.
Drama built up in recent days for the prime-time battle of the two top candidates, a novelty for Germany that has led to protests by one of the smaller parties shut out from the event. A second debate is set for Sept. 8.
Bild am Sonntag, Germany's most-read Sunday newspaper, printed an 11-point checklist for its readers to determine the winner. Categories included who speaks more clearly, who seems more authentic and who sweats less under the studio lights.
Standing at wooden lecterns about 1.5 meters (five feet) apart against a blue backdrop, each candidate had 1 1/2 minutes to answer the questions by interviewers Peter Limbourg and Peter Kloeppel.
But Schroeder and Stoiber mostly engaged in polite debate, with no immediate advantage evident for either.
Under ground rules agreed by both camps in months of negotiations, Schroeder got the first debate's opening question and Stoiber had the last word.
In another U.S.-style element, pollsters were interviewing viewers during and after the debate to determine Sunday's winner.
With polls showing about a third of the electorate undecided, a good showing to kick off the final month of campaigning could be crucial for Schroeder, who is far more popular than his governing party, the Social Democrats.
He drew confidence from new polls in recent days that showed a jump in his approval rating — already higher than Stoiber's — and in support for his party in the aftermath of floods that caused billions in damage in Germany this month.
The floods gave Schroeder a chance to show leadership and he seized it, leaving the opposition squabbling over how to react as he announced plans to delay income tax cuts set for next year and bump up corporate taxes for a year to pay for cleanup and rebuilding.
"People observe very carefully how a government reacts in such a crisis, whether they can count on the chancellor," Schroeder said in an interview Saturday in the Cologne newspaper Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger.
Each candidate's preparation for the debate underscored their contrasting styles.
Schroeder, breezy and more polished than his rival, said he would just "going over a few numbers" before heading in. Stoiber, a methodical man who likes to delve into files, held mock debates with his aides.
Stoiber has portrayed Schroeder as more style than substance and tried to keep the focus on the economy.
"People know that he (Schroeder) has failed completely in combating the second national catastrophe: unemployment," Stoiber was quoted Sunday as saying in the Welt am Sonntag weekly.
Look, I wouldn't call this "U.S.-style", it's more a matter of development of society and development of an open media culture. Up to 10 years ago, Germany had 3 tv stations. Now, everyone has cable or satellite with dozens of tv channels.
The media is far more unbuttoned than it used to be. A tv station broadcasts the debate, they have a hot property, they want to expand the amount of time they have eyeballs watching their station. What do you do? You do audience participation programs before and after.
As usual, it will take 3 or 4 days, before the final consensus arises on the debate. I think the fact that it came out even, is a win for the challenger, Stoiber. The reponse to the flood is a temporary bump, because both parties would have to respond to the natural disaster. The economy is a deeper problem. Do people want slick and smooth or substance. It remains to be seen.
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