NORTHERN Ireland figured in the first Presidential debate between President Clinton and Mr Bob Dole.
When the President claimed that there had been "progress" in Northern Ireland in his first term, Mr Dole retorted that there was no longer a ceasefire in Northern Ireland. But Mr Clinton came back later to insist the situation in Northern Ireland and the Middle East was better than four years ago.
Mr Dole performed well in the debate where President Clinton was expected to put up a better show. The 73 year old Republican challenger strongly criticised the President on the economy, drugs policy and foreign policy.
President Clinton made an appeal at the beginning that they should try to have a campaign of ideas and try to avoid insults. He paid a tribute at the start of the 90 minute debate to Mr Dole's "record of public service".
Mr Dole thanked the President for this. He referred to the presence of his wife, daughter and veterans who served with him in the second World War in Italy where he was serious wounded.
Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton was also present in the audience.
Mr Dole drew several laughs from the audience showing that he has a sense of humour and is not the rather grim personality he is portrayed as having.
President Clinton continuously rattled off lists of achievements during his first term. He attacked Mr Dole's proposal for a 15 per cent tax cut as leading to an increased budget deficit.
Mr Dole pointed out that he addressed Mr Clinton as "Mr President" and rebuked him for not addressing George Bush as Mr President in the debates before the last election.
There was a long exchange on who was responsible for the failure to introduce reform of the system of financing elections. The President said he had appointed members to a commission to propose reforms but the Republicans failed to do so. Mr Dole said that the political parties could not reform the system and it would have to be done by an independent body.
There was also a clash over Medicare, the health system for pensioners. Mr Clinton pointed out that Mr Dole had voted against it when it was set up in 1965.
Mr Dole had to concede this but said he now supported it. He made an emotional reference to his mother who benefitted from Medicare and asked him not to change it.
The President tried to show that Mr Dole opposed legislation to strengthen gun controls. Mr Dole replied that he proposed a better system by which anyone trying to buy any gun would have a computer check run first. This would be a much more effective system than the present legislation which has not been used except in a few eases.
Mr Dole also tried to show that the President had not handled the recent Iraq and Middle East crises in a proper manner. But the President strongly defended his foreign policy.