This is a particularly competitive race combined with the perception that the stakes are enormously high, and that has instigated all the donating, despite the fact that neither candidate inspires much passion.

This campaign started with Gore ignoring Bradley and Bradley vowing to run a different kind of campaign. Now it's become personal. These two guys really seem to rub each other the wrong way and it's getting out of hand.

That could hurt Gilmore, ... given the fact there is a majority of women voters in this state, a little bit higher than the norm throughout the country.

It's just that Robertson--given some of what he has said in the past--doesn't help to promote that discussion,

That mixes it up even more,

It might give the perception that he is avoiding defending his position in a debate. This race is so close it might have been to (Shays') advantage to start early with the debates.